Bringing life to forgotten trees

Matt Roman

Owner & Creator

I like to think I've been a woodworker my entire life. I seek out wood destined for a burn pile and embellish the natural inner beauty I see in it. I’ve always been passionate about working with wood and with an endless supply of scavenged lumber, I have an avenue to explore more creative ways of expressing this passion. I work under the moniker Resurrected Woodworks because like the phoenix, my materials reached the end of their old life emerging more glorious than before.

Although I am a woodworker, I often consider what I do more akin to found object art.

My goal as a craftsman is to produce heirloom quality household goods. No matter if I am working on a small item or a large one, a custom piece or one of my own crazy designs, I strive to make something that anybody would be proud to own.

Award Winning Craftsmanship

Best in Show 3-D 2017
Parker CO Fine Arts & Music Festival
 
 Best in Show 2017
Lawrence Art in the Park
  
Award of Recognition 2019
Mosaics Fine Art Festival, St. Charles, MO

First Place 2019
Lawrence Art in the Park
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Solo Show "Vessel"
Sparrow Gallery at Essential Goods

The Process

From Milling Lumber to The Final Product

I reached a point in my life where I needed to stop wondering and start doing. That's when the journey of milling my own lumber out of forgotten trees began. It started with a giant pile that had been cleared for an expansion at Kansas University. About six trees were rescued out of that pile and I haven't stopped since. 

Once the wood is milled, it is kiln dried and stored out of the elements. From there, I use a combination of machine and hand tools to create tight fitting, exposed joinery. Various carving methods allow me to lend a distinct character to each piece and to utilize as much of the harvested wood as possible.

I try to imbue each piece with a feeling of movement and fluidity. I build or carve each piece as light as possible to help accentuate this perception. Abandoning the idea that furniture must be static, I make items that suggest that they too are on a journey, engaging one’s imagination.

The Beginning

Inspired to Bring New Life to Felled Trees

I have always enjoyed working with wood. Many early childhood memories involve me going into the woods and making structures out of sticks. I first obtained a pocket knife at garage sale at the ripe age of 7 and started turning sticks into things, mostly pointy sticks. As I grew older, the things I made grew in complexity. I spent my college years at the KU School of Architecture and in the field, learning how to frame houses. As I preferred making things to designing things I continued in the construction industry.

From a young age, I was aware of the massive amount of trees taken down for urban growth. My grandfather would harvest firewood from the monstrous piles of their remains, and as a kid I was his gopher (go-fer this or whatever). Working in the construction industry I usually knew where that pile was and started to wonder if I could possibly use those trees for more than firewood.  My mission was born.