THE ARTIST

Driven by a passion for Native cultural stories, legends, and mythology, fine art carver Keoni reimagines wood as woven and beaded basketry. Using sharpened steel, fire, inks, and organic dyes, he creates story-driven illusionary artwork entirely by hand and freehand, with Sugar Maple as his canvas.

Keoni is nationally recognized as a three-time Smithsonian artist, a 2019 C.M. Russell Museum artist, a SOFA Chicago exhibitor, Fine Craft Artist of the Year/ACA, and a three-time award winner at the Jackson Hole Western Design Conference.

He was inducted into the “By Western Hands” artisans’ guild in 2018 and is regularly featured in Tier I national juried art events, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art Fine Craft Show, Architectural Digest Design Show in New York City, SOFA Chicago, and major fine art events in Scottsdale, Fort Worth, Jackson Hole, Denver, Park City, and Albuquerque.

In 2026, Keoni’s artwork was selected for exhibition at the Michelangelo Foundation’s biennial “Islands of Light” exposition in Venice, an invitation-only international selection.

TECHNIQUE AND VISION

Keoni works entirely freehand, inspired by worldwide Tribal and First Peoples imagery. Sugar Maple wood is used as the canvas. Once shaped, designs are burned at high temperatures onto the wood using a single 1/8-inch straight-line tool. 

It is not uncommon for a single artwork to require more than 25,000 individual cuts, burns, and colored cells to complete. Today, Keoni is among only the very few excelling in these unusual techniques — bringing to life distant memories, honored heritage, and reverence for shared tribal history. His work is defined by a distinctive “touchable illusion” style, inviting viewers to question the boundaries between carved wood, woven form, and sculptural illusion.

CRITICAL RECOGNITION

“The artist’s work blurs the lines between fine art, fine craft and folk art, and sneaks into the niche between fine, decorative and functional art. Regardless the label, the artwork draws second looks and calls out for touching as wood is pushed beyond normal bounds in unexpected and refreshing ways.”

— Timothy Warrington, International Confederation of Art Critics

COLLECTIONS AND REPRESENTATION

Keoni’s artwork is held in private collections throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia. Gallery representation list available upon request.

Actively seeking a limited number of gallery representation opportunities in diverse geographies. To express interest and begin a conversation, please email the artist.