From Michigan woodshop to distinctive studio

Natural Selection Studio is the home of Michigan woodturner Greg Gallegos, a maker who has spent more than two decades refining a style that blends precise turning with bold surface design. Working from his studio in the Bath and Haslett area of Michigan, he developed a practice built on controlled form, vivid color, and a willingness to push wood far beyond traditional expectations.

Reclaimed wood as a creative starting point

A core element of his approach is the use of reclaimed and locally sourced material. Fallen trees, rescued offcuts, and irregular chunks of hardwood become the raw foundation for vessels, bowls, wall pieces, and the sculptural forms he is known for. Imperfections are part of the equation. Knots, cracks, and wandering grain lines are treated as features rather than flaws, guiding the direction a piece takes once it hits the lathe.

Surfaces shaped by texture, erosion, and color

Many of his turned forms begin simply, but they rarely stay that way. After shaping on the lathe, he carves, textures, and layers patterns that transform the wood into objects that feel weathered or eroded. Deep grooves cut across the form like wind-scoured ridges, while scooped recesses resemble stones worn smooth by water. When the texture is complete, color steps in. Saturated reds, electric blues, and smoky blacks settle into carved recesses, while raised areas stay more natural. This contrast gives his work the feeling of miniature landscapes.

Podlets and organic sculptural forms

His well known podlets grew out of earlier experiments but quickly became one of his defining signatures. These organic, pod-like forms are turned from green branches and shaped into playful sculptures that blur the line between botanical curiosity and abstract art. Their stems bend, their edges twist, and their surfaces come alive with color and texture. They may look spontaneous, but the technique behind them demands keen timing, sharp tools, and a deep understanding of how green wood behaves as it dries.

Wall pieces and quieter series

Beyond podlets and vessels, Gallegos also creates wall sculptures and more understated series where he allows the natural grain to take the lead. These quieter works show the range he has developed over the years. Some pieces lean toward minimalism with soft curves and subtle tones, while others burst with layered pigments that move across the surface like brushstrokes.

Teaching and ongoing evolution

Teaching plays a major role in his studio life. Gallegos is active in the woodturning community, demonstrating techniques, sharing new approaches, and contributing to events that highlight contemporary turning. His work appears in exhibitions and publications that focus on surface design and the evolving language of modern wood art.

Natural Selection Studio keeps shifting as his ideas evolve. The constants remain: reclaimed wood, clean forms, carved textures, and color used not as decoration but as narrative. Every vessel, podlet, and wall piece becomes a small record of the interaction between tool, grain, and imagination.