Biography 2007
Brenda Stein is a studio artist living in Nashville, TN. She received her BS from the University of Wisconsin.
She has trained with woodturning masters Ray Key, David Ellsworth and John Jordan, and was mentored by
the late Charles Alvis. As a woodturner Brenda creates gallery quality art that moves the viewer by combining
the beauty of the individual characteristics of our Tennessee woods with a strong form to support that beauty.
Brenda participates in selected art shows and exhibitions in the Southeast. She particularly enjoys making
commissioned pieces from trees that have special meaning to their owners. She was selected to design and create
the 2007 Governor’s Awards in the Arts for the state of Tennessee. She is involved in the Tennessee Association
of Craft Artist’s Art in the School Program and Cheekwood’s School Outreach Program, demonstrating wood-
turning while educating and inspiring students. She is an advocate for the Nashville Arts Coalition.
She was instrumental in designing and setting up the woodturning studio at University School of Nashville’s new
Tibbott Art Center. She also promotes the arts by teaching through University School of Nashville’s Evening
Classes program and by demonstrating woodturning for the public at Tennessee Association of Craft Artist’s
Spring and Fall Fairs, as well other shows, fairs, and festivals.
Brenda was featured on Nashville Public Television’s Tennessee Crossroads (#2012) and had the pleasure of
recording a video segment on the Do It Yourself Network, featuring artists and the tools they use, which airs
regularly (#240). She is a member of the American Association of Woodturners, the Tennessee Association
of Crafts Artists, and served as Vice President of the Tennessee Association of Woodturners, where she is a member.
Brenda gives private lessons at her studio or in her student's shop, and consults on shop design for woodturners.
Her work can be found in select galleries and many private collections.