Freedom of the Stone - inverted

cast Hydrostone pillow with carved wood "stone"

11 x 11 x 7 inches

Courtesy of The Artist

Special thanks to the artist for this 100% donation

Jere Williams is a Savannah-based wood sculptor and furniture maker known for his hyper-realistic trompe l'oeil sculptures that challenge the viewer's perception of material and weight. He has exhibited his work at Craft + Design for the past several years. He was awarded Best in Show in 2024 and Excellence in Wood and Recycled Materials in 2025.

"I was born in Atlanta, Georgia and graduated from Georgia State University after completing work on an M.A. degree in philosophy in 2000 and an M.F.A. degree in sculpture in 2002. For roughly 25 years I taught various art forms and philosophy on the college, secondary and middle school levels. My academic work has been published in the Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism and the International Journal of Social Science; I have also appeared a few times in Fine Woodworking Magazine.

My artwork has been fortunate to have received recognition in the form of juror's awards, people's choice awards and in the popular press; the CV has a selected listing. For many years I was represented by art galleries in the Richmond, VA area and in New England. However, after retiring from teaching I have pursued commission work and have been participating in juried craft and art shows: the Smithsonian Craft Show, the Crystal Bridges Museum Art Fair, and the Naples National Art Fair among others.

During my academic career I worked extensively with nonprofit companies, leading teams of students in pro bono graphic design projects which promoted awareness, engagement and fundraising campaigns. I was a board member with the Visual Arts Center of Richmond for two 3 year terms ending in 2022. My art practice has also included making collaborative sculptures/installations with other visual artists as well as creating performances with dance and theater companies (making sets, videos and sculptural elements for their productions). My home and studio are currently located in Savannah, GA where my wife, Sally, teaches high school math at a local private school."