Biography

Thomas Tyers is a master woodcarver based in Omro, Wisconsin, and a native of Oshkosh. He has been carving wildfowl for more than 52 years and has produced over 4,000 works, ranging from miniature decoys to full-scale birds such as red-tailed hawks and snowy egrets. Throughout his career, Tyers has earned more than 400 awards across the United States and Canada, including three Best in Category honors at the World Championships in Ocean City, Maryland. 

Tyers learned the tradition of decoy carving through a lineage of Oshkosh carvers, studying under John Ryan, who was taught by renowned Lake Winnebago decoy carver Frank Strey. His work has been exhibited alongside that of John James Audubon at the Paine Art Center in Oshkosh (1991 and 2016), and he was featured on Wisconsin Public Television’s Wisconsin Life in 2014. His work is held in the collections of President Jimmy Carter, Dr. Jane Goodall, and Dr. George Archibald, founder of the International Crane Foundation.  

Tyers’ current work explores a refined focus on individual feathers, butterflies, and complex feather compositions, emphasizing detail, color, and transparency. His pieces are carved from basswood and painted with acrylic using techniques such as dry brushing, layered washes, and airbrushing. He builds custom frames and mounts to complement and highlight each work.