Thomas Rude achieved his fifteen minutes of notoriety in April 2004, as the creator of a “controversial” American flag linocut removed from a show of his prints at the Governor’s Reception Office in the Oregon State Capital. American folk influences initially inspired and continue to inform much of his work.

Rude brings over thirty years of woodcarving experience to his craft, including fifteen years accepting commissions as a custom woodcarver. Although he is not a folk artist in the purest sense, Rude strongly identifies with the self-taught and art for the people aspects of the form. Jean Lipman, one of the pioneer scholars in the field of folk art, wrote: “Activity of the folk artists…was a central contribution to the mainstream of American culture in the formative years of our democracy.”

Rude currently exhibits at Waterstone Gallery in Portland.

Contact the artist: crowfly@juno.com