26th Annual Texas Furniture Makers Show
Kerr Arts and Cultural Center 228 Earl Garrett St, Kerrville, TX 78028
October 30 - December 12, 2025
Texas Furniture Makers’ Show® is an annual statewide competition of the finest custom furniture makers in Texas. The show is held at the beautiful Kerr Arts & Cultural Center in Kerrville, Texas.
2024 Best of Show (Jim Derby Award of Excellence) awarded to Mike Roberts Framework Dresser.
Left to right: Mark Levin, Brandon Berdoll, Mike Roberts, and Asa Christiana
EDUCATIONAL SEMINAR
This year's TFMS educational seminar will feature judges John Gallis and Kelly Maxwell.
John's presentation will cover furniture design based on decades of experience with an in depth look at his work and other influential makers. "We learn more from our mistakes than our accomplishments."
Kelly will focus on practical application as he shares how artisans can build visibility and sales by bringing the same creativity and precision to online marketing as they do to the workbench. Designing functional furniture is only half the craft - the other half is presenting your work to the public.
It will be held at the Kerr Arts & Cultural Center on Saturday afternoon, November 8th, from 1:00 to 3:00pm. The cost is FREE for current Exhibitors and $20 for their guests and the general public. Pre-registration is required for ALL attendees.
Please register at www.tinyurl.com/2025TFMSSeminar or in person when dropping off your furniture.
We hope you will join us for this great learning opportunity.
2025 Judges
JOHN GALLIS
A native of Long Island, John established a lucrative career building custom cabinetry for Bloomingdale’s before moving west to Cody, Wyoming. He worked for a local furniture maker in town before opening Norseman Designs West, where he created his own line of award winning high-end western furniture. John combines the simple honesty of Shaker style with the flowing curves of Art Nouveau. Wood is his favorite medium; it is warm and forgiving, and he enjoys incorporating different textures into his pieces. John finds that each species of wood has its own unique scent and characteristics. He particularly likes working with Walnut and Juniper, as they blend well and complement each other. John searches out exotic examples of these woods, focusing on their figure and grain to enhance the overall look of the piece itself. He tries not to overwork the wood to be something it’s not. John draws inspiration from nature and by studying the work of the masters, from Shaker to Stickley, from Art Nouveau to Cody’s own Thomas Molesworth. John’s son, Ian, has been working with him for the past fifteen years. Each Norseman Designs West piece is highly refined, elegantly composed, and decidedly original.
KELLY MAXWELL
Kelly Maxwell grew up in Kuna, Idaho, on his grandparent’s farm where he learned the value of hard work. From an early age, he enjoyed nature and exploring all it has to offer, always anticipating the wonder around each corner in epic playgrounds such as the Owyhee and Sawtooth mountain ranges. His explorations deepened his love for nature and the vast Snake River plains. In late 2000, while working as a paramedic in Georgia, he was asked by his wife to build some rustic furniture for his stepdaughter’s wedding. Although he had no formal woodworking training, he jumped into furniture building and built several pieces, finding his life’s calling. Kelly has worked for decades in the industry and become an award winning master of the craft. While he is not against controlled selective harvesting of trees for lumber, he prefers being more environmentally responsible by using materials milled from salvaged and dead-standing trees. Kelly is inspired by nature and primarily designs furniture from live edge wood but has experience in other more traditional styles. After many years, he still learns something new each day and believes that the only limit is your imagination. As a self-made furniture maker, he stays true to his humble roots as he expands his craft. “I work with wood found in nature,” says Kelly, “as it reveals an organic beauty that transcends woodworking into an art form. Many times, it’s like polishing a hidden gem.”
BOB CARD
TFMS award winning furniture maker, Bob Card, has been a dedicated maker and woodworker for over 50 years. Growing up in Des Moines, Iowa, Bob found warmth and inspiration in his father's basement workshop where he learned the basics of woodworking from a young age. Bob's journey to becoming a full-time artist was not straightforward. After earning an MBA, he spent over two decades in senior corporate roles. Seeking a mid-career change, he left his job to open a furniture studio in an old warehouse in Houston's East End. After many years of focusing on custom furniture, Bob began creating sculptures from leftover scraps. Over time, his passion for sculpture grew, leading him to participate in more exhibitions, win accolades, and eventually establish a dedicated sculpture studio in the arts district. Today, Bob is a full-time sculptor whose work has received numerous awards in juried competitions and is held in significant private collections. In 2024, Bob secured representation with Heidi Vaughan Fine Art and has since participated in shows in that gallery as well as exhibitions at the University of Texas - Tyler and the Montreal Art Center and Museum in Quebec, Canada. In 2023, Bob and his wife, Cynthia, opened Decatur Street Studio, a creative space that hosts artist residencies and independently curated art exhibitions. Bob is an executive board member of Fresh Arts, a Houston-based nonprofit dedicated to empowering local artists and creatives which manages Arts District Houston.
Apparel Fundraiser
We are excited to announce the availability of Texas Furniture Makers Show branded merchandise in our new online store. Net proceeds directly support the TFMS and its future growth.
In addition to the screen-printed apparel we have offered in the past, you can now get embroidered shirts, hoodies and hats. Additionally, there are several other TFMS branded items available with more coming soon.
This new platform allows you to order with immediate fulfillment. No more waiting for a campaign period to end for everything to be produced.
Please order one or more to show your pride in the Show and help support this great event.
https://texas-furniture-makers-show-shop.fourthwall.com
Order soon so that you can wear your official TFMS gear on furniture drop off day - Monday, October 27th.
This fundraising campaign is directly sponsored by the Kerr Arts & Cultural Center, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. It is hosted on the FourthWall online platform and fulfilled through Printfy.
We appreciate your support of the Texas Furniture Makers Show.
Honored by the State of Texas
The State of Texas recently honored the Texas Furniture Makers Show with an official resolution recognizing our 25 year history as the statewide furniture competition.
