Born in 1949 in Oakland, California, but raised in Schenectady, New York, Mark Lindquist is a woodturner and sculptor based in Quincy, Florida. Lindquist was introduced to wood at a young age by his father, an engineer and woodturner. Lindquist hoped to pursue metal sculpture after completing a BA in art at New England College in 1971, but soon returned to working in wood. Inspired by his study of art, he applied an experimental approach to the familiar materials and techniques. Much like his contemporaries working in ceramics, Lindquist created non-functional vessels that highlighted materiality, often working with spalted – or flawed – wood. Lindquist soon gained recognition, and he has since established himself as a leader in the field. He has lectured widely and published His Sculpting Wood: Tools and Techniques in 1986, which quickly became a primer for woodworkers. Lindquist has also been a technological innovator in the studio, and he is credited with developing a technique to couple a chainsaw to the lathe. Lindquist returned to school after moving to Florida, completing his MFA from Florida State University in 1990. His work has been exhibited around the country and is represented within the collections of institutions including the Art Institute of Chicago and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. He was elected a Fellow of the American Craft Council in 2007.