MEET THE ARTISTS

At LINDQUIST we believe that to love an object is to understand its making. Toward that end, we want you to know the artisans whose hands crafted each object that you bring into your life. Look for the imprinted symbols in your object, and then use those to trace the story of its creation through our workshop. Numbers will indicate the edition of your object, and figural and letter symbols will tell of its makers.

The Artists

LINDY, Co-founder and Creative Director

Lindy McDonough is the Creative Director and Founder of LINDQUIST in East Providence, Rhode Island. From 2010-2020, McDonough was Co-founder and Creative Director of Lotuff Leather. McDonough spent a decade overseeing the design process from pattern-making to final touch. She possesses the unusual ability both to design and craft renowned artisan objects, and to inspire and train the next generation of makers. McDonough holds a BFA in Industrial Design from The Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) and serves as an Adjunct Faculty teaching “Design for Production” at her alma mater. In November 2018 she was the first Rhode Island based designer to be inducted into the The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). In 2019 she was named Rhode Island’s Emerging Designer of the Year. Her designs have been available at top retailers worldwide, from the first floor of Barneys to Moda Operandi. Her duffle bag designs have won top spot for “GQ’s Best” 3 years running. Her designs and studio practice have been featured and lauded by The New York Times, Vogue, Buzzfeed, Bloomberg, and Conde Nast Traveler. Her work has walked the runway in four New York Fashion Week runway shows, in partnership with internationally-renowned fashion designed Todd Snyder. She has also shown her designs repeatedly at both New York and Paris Fashion Weeks. She lives in Pawtucket, Rhode Island with her Husband Conor and their Boston Terrier "Tux" in the 1886 municipal building they have lovingly restored. 

     

CONOR, Co-founder, Industrial Designer, and Engineer 

Conor brings an engineer’s perspective to the LINDQUIST team. After graduating with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Lehigh University he was a lead engineer at Greasecar, developing vegetable oil conversion kits for cars. For the past decade he’s worked as a mechanical engineer and product designer for Motim Industries. Surgical robotics and ultrasounds may not immediately draw parallels to hand-crafted leather work, but it’s Conor’s mechanical design that has sharpened his focus and extended his patience. At LINDQUIST Conor is the pulse of our shop––he maintains and fabricates our specialized toolset, keeping us both grounded and efficient. His ingenuity lets us design and create without limitation. Conor does most things well. If he doesn’t, he troubleshoots methodically until he does. Whether it’s  the flakiest crumb of a croissant or the most efficient injection in his Volkswagen Rabbit, Conor has a passion for perfection among the subtle details. 

KATE, Head of Production

Kate is a graduate of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Printmedia Department. Always curious, Kate has spent time working as a press operator, gardener, wolf caretaker, veterinary assistant and leather craftsman. She brings to the LINDQUIST team five years of leather production expertise with a keen eye for minimalist design and detail. Kate is an active member of the Providence artist community and a former member of The Dirt Palace––a multidisciplinary feminist art collective in the Olneyville neighborhood of Providence. When she’s not at the studio, Kate spends her time maintaining her Sears Modern Home, expansive native flower garden and collection of vintage Volvos with her husband and two very fluffy dogs.  

EMILY, Lead Painter 

Originally from the sandy depths of the NJ Pine Barrens, Emily has spent the last seven years in RI, trading one view of the Atlantic for another. She brings four years of leather-working experience to the team and a fastidious attention to detail. When not at work you can find her exploring nature (forever trying to remember the names of plants) or working on various textile projects.

Zach, Lead Cutter and Painter 

Zachary is our assistant painter and cutter. He was born in the Philadelphia suburbs where he spent his formative years then moved to the Jersey shore where he met his partner and fellow Lindquist team member Emily. He comes to us with three years of leatherwork experience and is a working contemporary artist. He was formally represented by Fisher Parrish gallery where he had his first solo show in 2019 and is currently represented by Zoe Fisher Projects, NY. He’s had work shown in fairs including NADA New York and Design Miami and participated in shows at galleries like The Pit Gallery, LA and Hotel Art Pavilion, NY. His current inspirations include late 19th century decorative art and ancient plastics.