Heirloom is owned and operated by Eric Frank, a fiber artist born and raised in Door County, WI. Frank is a storyteller, in his personal art practice he constructs garments and objects that tell the stories of his childhood and call upon the history of his home.
He seeks to do the same with furniture, breathing new life into well loved pieces with histories of their own. The craft of upholstering has traditionally been a trade, Frank seeks to bridge the world between craft and fine art, making functional pieces of art to be used in people’s homes and public spaces.
Frank received his BFA in Fiber from the Kansas City Art Institute in 2022. He studied and apprenticed under Dave and Bob Angst and is now carrying on the legacy of Green Bay Upholstery.
Green Bay Upholstery was established in 1927 by the Angst family and reupholstered and crafted furniture for four generations. The last owners of the Angst family were father, Dave, and son, Bob. At the end of 2023 they bid the business farewell and passed the legacy onto Frank, in full confidence he would bring a fresh perspective and a skilled hand to carry on the art that is upholstery.