Artist Thy Tran

“The most beautiful part of any piece I make is the part I almost sanded away.”

Thy Tran grew up next to her father’s woodworking shop, though as a kid she was only allowed to “look, not touch.” By the time she turned 21, she decided it was time to prove a point.

These days, her father occasionally asks her for advice on shaping live edge pieces.

Thy Tran specializes in organic, free-flowing designs like wave shelves and mushroom caps - the kind of work that demands patience, steady hands, and a sharp artistic eye far more than brute strength. She has a habit of spotting beauty in the uneven parts most people would smooth out without thinking twice.

Which explains why some of her best work comes from the details she almost removed.