David Burke was born in Buffalo, New York in 1969. His formal education includes an MFA in Sculpture at Ohio University, an MS in Communication Design from Pratt Institute. For nearly a decade he worked in product and packaging design as well as assisted seminal feminist artist – Lynda Benglis.
A recurring theme in his work includes the examination of identity in craft practices of knitting, crocheting, sewing, quilting, beading with the codification of gender roles and labour practices. The time he spent in Tanzania observing and participating in craft processes (woodworking, textiles) was an inspiration and point of origin for the investigation of these issues in his own practices and cultural reflection.