Thomas Dunning is a designer, fabricator, and the owner of Meristem Services LLC: a business that supports museums, galleries, and artists in the area. 

Opening this series of connections between the human and gnome worlds has involved many different strategies to bring to life. Thomas used a combination of classic low-tech techniques and materials such as working with logs, branches, and papier-mâché, along with more modern techniques of digital modeling and 3D printing.

Thomas grew up in Minnesota, enjoying a childhood of building forts in the woods and taking things apart. Years of play and experimentation gave him an appreciation for the more mystical realms of the forest and of art-making. He received a BA in Studio Art from St. Olaf College, and worked a variety of jobs making things from bronze sculptures to industrial machinery to kitchen cabinets before turning his focus to working on exhibits starting in 2019. He has been living and making things in Bozeman since 2016. 

When not making things for clients, Thomas can be found in the mountains skiing, biking, or hiking; and he participates in various creativity-focused groups in the area. You can find out more on his website or on instagram.