Mike Cohene is a Vancouver, British Columbia woodcarver whose work includes wildlife sculpture, fish carvings, Judaica, functional objects, and narrative pieces. He began carving in 2009 after seeing a demonstration at the Steveston Farmers and Artisans Market.

Cohene’s work has been exhibited at woodcarving shows throughout British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon, where it has received Best of Show, Best of Division, Judges’ Choice, and Carvers’ Choice awards. In 2017, the National Fish Carvers Guild named him Artist of the Month. His king salmon received 3rd Best of Show in the Intermediate Division at the 2018 National Fish Carving Virtual Championships.

His work has been shown at the Sidney and Gertrude Zack Gallery at the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver in 2017 and 2023. He has also completed commissioned work for a fishing lodge in Haida Gwaii and for private collectors.

Cohene is Vice-President of the Richmond Carvers Society. In 2020, he helped spearhead Canada’s first virtual woodcarving exhibition, attracting entries from Canada, the United States, Australia, and Italy.

        Artist Statement

​

I carve to bring material, observation, and story together. Fish and wildlife are my primary subjects, but my work also includes Judaica, functional objects, and personal commissions. I am drawn to wood for its warmth, grain, and unpredictability; driftwood and found forms often suggest the beginning of a piece.

My process ranges from fine hand tools and dental instruments to power carving tools, depending on the scale and character of the work. Whether carving a trout, a bird, a canukiah, or a humorous figure, I aim to make a piece that feels alive and invites a closer look. My studio is both a workshop and a retreat, and I hope viewers find in the finished work some of the pleasure I find in creating it.