Our Ati dining table in walnut. The Ati Dining Table draws inspiration from our cultural heritage in Ghana, while also incorporating elements of Scandinavian aesthetics. The name “Ati” comes from the Ewe language, spoken in Ghana and Togo, where it means “tree.” Ghana is the heritage of me and my wife. This unique piece captures the natural beauty of a tree, from its roots to its branches.
The table’s shape is meticulously carved and shaped by both hand and machine, resulting in graceful curves that evoke the natural form of a tree.
We are a creative team and joy fuels all that we do. I am so grateful for my brilliant and supportive wife who is an endless fountain of inspiration. She is a masterful clothing designer and has managed to bring that creative energy into the woodshop too. Just wow! @sew_with_fiavi
I am incredibly excited about the newest piece from our studio!
The Ati Side Table draws inspiration from our cultural heritage in Ghana, while also incorporating elements of Scandinavian aesthetics. The name “Ati” comes from the Ewe language, spoken in Togo and parts of Ghana, where it means “tree.” Ghana is the heritage of the artist and his wife. This unique piece captures the natural beauty of a tree, from its roots to its branches.
The table’s shape is meticulously carved and shaped by both hand and machine, resulting in graceful curves that evoke the natural form of a tree.
Tonight at 8 PM, Echoes of the Forest comes to @mypbsnc . 🪵🌳
“Best of Our State” steps inside the workshops of two Western NC artisans turning Helene-salvaged timber into benches, sculptures, and functional works of art — pieces our community can sit with, walk past, and call its own.
This is what regrowth looks like.
📺 PBS NC | Tonight, 8 PM
“Best of Our State” — Episode 306
echoesoftheforest.org
#EchoesOfTheForest #PBSNC #WesternNorthCarolina #AppalachianCraft
@craftedglory@mountainmike29@pbs
Earlier this year, a client commissioned me to make four stools for her new home in Naples, Florida. This was an exciting opportunity to incorporate my West African design aesthetic and come up with something that is both artwork and functional.
Ati | ah-tee | (noun, Ewe language - Ghana)
tree; a woody perennial plant with a trunk and branches
Here I am crafting the base of the Ati Dining table in oak. This is a design inspired by my reflections on the Ghanaian artistry and carving I’ve gotten to observe on my visits in Ghana.
This spring and summer I am debuting work that is deeply special to me. At ICFF in New York, in Downtown Asheville, NC, and nationally on PBS — this is where I will show what I have been exploring.
Carving is giving expression to the West African soul of my work.
This #MakerMonday, we’re excited to spotlight Kwadwo Som-Pimpong and his woodworking business, @craftedglory . 🪵🪑
In the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, Kwadwo transforms rare American hardwoods into sculptural furniture that bridges continents and generations. As founder and creative director of Crafted Glory, he leads an intimate studio practice where each piece emerges from rigorous design thinking and meticulous handcraft—furniture conceived not as product, but as cultural artifact.
His work inhabits the intersection of his Ghanaian heritage and contemporary design vocabulary. Drawing from West African artistry’s bold forms and textural richness while honoring Scandinavian design’s restraint and clarity, he creates furniture that is both deeply rooted and unmistakably contemporary.
On his partnership with Nest working on the Climate Academy, he stated, “Nest has been an indispensable resource for me in my craft practice. I started crafted glory in 2017 and have experienced many ups and downs. Nest came into the picture and helped strengthen and professionalize my practice. I have had the privilege of being involved in a few Nest programs - remote and in person - and each one has taught me powerful lessons that have helped me to strengthen my craft and my business. The Climate Academy is an incredibly useful resource for maintaining a strong craft practice in the midst of challenging climate conditions, while remaining sustainable, both environmentally and financially. I am deeply grateful for Nest and all the kind people who operate it.”
Kwadwo is evolving Crafted Glory from furniture studio to broader creative practice—one that encompasses architectural interventions, spatial design, and culturally-informed installations. His vision extends beyond individual commissions to projects that shape how we inhabit space, bringing West African design thinking into dialogue with contemporary architecture.
Join us in celebrating Kwadwo and his amazing, bold handicraft, and follow along his journey @craftedglory !
#CraftedGlory #NestClimateAcademy #makermovement #buildanest
African artistry doesn’t belong behind museum glass — it belongs in the spaces we live, work, and gather in. I’m honored to join @paulrene_studio and Shirley Rafina of @mouvance_noire at @icff_official for Beyond the Museum Wall, a discussion on the vital role African artistry plays in shaping contemporary design. Moderated by @studiolani . May 18 | 10:30am | Javits Center, NYC
Ghana is in my heart and bones. Appalachia is my home.
It is a privilege to tap into the carving tradition of my beloved Ghana while honoring the North Carolina mountains that have flooded me with inspiration.
This piece will soon fully emerge from the log that washed away in the storm and finally rest in a historic part of Asheville.
#echoesoftheforest
