The Spotlight: Functional Lighting as Illuminated Sculpture

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Hovering between art and engineering, lighting design requires multidisciplinary creativity and finesse. Our direct engagement with lighting objects is often limited in a tactile sense to the flipping of a switch. Yet, the ephemeral force that they emit revolutionizes how we experience any environment. With many lights designed to serve first and foremost as transmitters that dissolve anonymously into a space, this exhibition will instead focus on those that stand out on their own as sculptural art objects. The lamps and lighting that will be shown in this exhibition transform spaces through their primary functional capacity but also through the elegance and intrigue that they bring to domestic and commercial environments. This exhibition will focus on lighting types and styles that feature craftsmanship melded with design innovation.

Participating artists include: Garry Knox Bennett, Evan Chambers, Byron Conn, Julie Conway, Timothy J. Ferrie, Mia Hall, Nathaniel Hall, Hilliard Lighting, Brett A. MacLearnsberry, Po Shun Leong, John Conver Lutz, Julie Moringello, Neptune Glass, Marcus Papay, Kenny Pieper, Isabella Pierson, Christopher Poehlmann, Clark Renfort, William Stranger, and Hongtao Zhou.

A series of lectures by leading artists in the field of functional lighting design will accompany this exhibition. This exhibition was co-planned with The Furniture Society.

  • Furniture Society logo
  • Hongtao Zhou, Energy Wood lumber floor lamp, 2016 (l). Byron Conn, Dahlia Table Lamp, 2012 (r).
    Hongtao Zhou, Energy Wood lumber floor lamp, 2016 (l). Byron Conn, Dahlia Table Lamp, 2012 (r).
  • Hongtao Zhou, Energy Wood lumber floor lamp (detail), 2016
    Hongtao Zhou, Energy Wood lumber floor lamp (detail), 2016
  • Byron Conn, Dahlia Table Lamp, 2012
    Byron Conn, Dahlia Table Lamp, 2012
  • Byron Conn, Dahlia Table Lamp, 2012
    Byron Conn, Dahlia Table Lamp, 2012
  • John Conver Lutz, Martini Lounge Table Lamp, 2015
    John Conver Lutz, Martini Lounge Table Lamp, 2015
  • Clark Renfort, Swan table lamp, 2015
    Clark Renfort, Swan table lamp, 2015
  • Clark Renfort, Swan table lamp (detail), 2015
    Clark Renfort, Swan table lamp (detail), 2015
  • Po Shun Leong, Double ovoid wall light- 2nd Prototype, 2015
    Po Shun Leong, Double ovoid wall light- 2nd Prototype, 2015
  • Po Shun Leong, Double ovoid wall light- 2nd Prototype (detail), 2015
    Po Shun Leong, Double ovoid wall light- 2nd Prototype (detail), 2015
  • Brett A. MacLearnsberry, Lonely Blossom wall light, 2014
    Brett A. MacLearnsberry, Lonely Blossom wall light, 2014
  • Brett A. MacLearnsberry, Lonely Blossom wall light (detail), 2014
    Brett A. MacLearnsberry, Lonely Blossom wall light (detail), 2014
  • Isabella Pierson, Zig Zag lamp, 2016
    Isabella Pierson, Zig Zag lamp, 2016
  • Isabella Pierson, Zig Zag lamp (detail), 2016
    Isabella Pierson, Zig Zag lamp (detail), 2016
  • Isabella Pierson, Zig Zag lamp (detail), 2016
    Isabella Pierson, Zig Zag lamp (detail), 2016
  • Nathaniel Hall, Erosion Lamp, 2012
    Nathaniel Hall, Erosion Lamp, 2012
  • Nathaniel Hall, Erosion Lamp (detail), 2012
    Nathaniel Hall, Erosion Lamp (detail), 2012
  • Nathaniel Hall, Erosion Lamp (detail), 2012
    Nathaniel Hall, Erosion Lamp (detail), 2012
  • Christopher Poehlmann, newGROWTH Wall Sconce, 2016
    Christopher Poehlmann, newGROWTH Wall Sconce, 2016
  • Marcus Papay, Tripod floor lamp, 2016
    Marcus Papay, Tripod floor lamp, 2016
  • Marcus Papay, Tripod floor lamp (detail), 2016
    Marcus Papay, Tripod floor lamp (detail), 2016
  • Marcus Papay, Tripod floor lamp (detail), 2016
    Marcus Papay, Tripod floor lamp (detail), 2016
  • Julie Conway, Galaxia Pendant Cluster with Canopy, 2015
    Julie Conway, Galaxia Pendant Cluster with Canopy, 2015
  • Julie Conway, Galaxia Pendant Cluster with Canopy, 2015
    Julie Conway, Galaxia Pendant Cluster with Canopy, 2015
  • Timothy J. Ferrie, Rustic Mist Table Light, 2016
    Timothy J. Ferrie, Rustic Mist Table Light, 2016
  • Timothy J. Ferrie, Rustic Mist Table Light (detail), 2016
    Timothy J. Ferrie, Rustic Mist Table Light (detail), 2016
  • Neptune Glassworks, Cone pendant, 2016
    Neptune Glassworks, Cone pendant, 2016
  • Neptune Glassworks, Cone pendant (detail), 2016
    Neptune Glassworks, Cone pendant (detail), 2016
  • Neptune Glassworks, Cone pendant (detail), 2016
    Neptune Glassworks, Cone pendant (detail), 2016
  • Garry Knox Bennet, Bamboo Container Light, 2015 (r). Garry Knox Bennet, Magic Bulb Light, 2015 (l).
    Garry Knox Bennet, Bamboo Container Light, 2015 (r). Garry Knox Bennet, Magic Bulb Light, 2015 (l).
  • Garry Knox Bennet, Magic Bulb Light, 2015
    Garry Knox Bennet, Magic Bulb Light, 2015
  • Garry Knox Bennet, Bamboo container light, 2015
    Garry Knox Bennet, Bamboo container light, 2015
  • Garry Knox Bennett, "Bamboo Container with One Light and Stems"
    Garry Knox Bennett, “Bamboo Container with One Light and Stems”
  • Mia Hall, Concrete Chandelier, 2014
    Mia Hall, Concrete Chandelier, 2014
  • Mia Hall, Concrete Chandelier (detail), 2014
    Mia Hall, Concrete Chandelier (detail), 2014
  • Mia Hall, Concrete Chandelier (detail), 2014
    Mia Hall, Concrete Chandelier (detail), 2014
  • Neptune Glassworks, Limbo sconce, 2015
    Neptune Glassworks, Limbo sconce, 2015
  • Neptune Glassworks, Limbo sconce (detail), 2015
    Neptune Glassworks, Limbo sconce (detail), 2015
  • Neptune Glassworks, Limbo sconce (detail), 2015
    Neptune Glassworks, Limbo sconce (detail), 2015
  • Evan Chambers, Whale lamp, 2016 (r). Evan Chambers, Octo-Rocket lamp, 2015 (l).
    Evan Chambers, Whale lamp, 2016 (r). Evan Chambers, Octo-Rocket lamp, 2015 (l).
  • Evan Chambers, Octo-Rocket lamp, 2015
    Evan Chambers, Octo-Rocket lamp, 2015
  • Evan Chambers, Whale lamp, 2016
    Evan Chambers, Whale lamp, 2016
  • Evan Chambers, Whale lamp (detail), 2016
    Evan Chambers, Whale lamp (detail), 2016
  • Kenny Pieper, Reticello Pendant Bell Shape, 2016
    Kenny Pieper, Reticello Pendant Bell Shape, 2016
  • Kenny Pieper, Reticello Pendant Bell Shape (detail), 2016
    Kenny Pieper, Reticello Pendant Bell Shape (detail), 2016
  • William Stranger, Set Fire to My Own Life, ‘Art From the Ashes’ Series, 2016
    William Stranger, Set Fire to My Own Life, ‘Art From the Ashes’ Series, 2016
  • William Stranger, Set Fire to My Own Life, ‘Art From the Ashes’ Series (detail), 2016
    William Stranger, Set Fire to My Own Life, ‘Art From the Ashes’ Series (detail), 2016
  • William Stranger, Set Fire to My Own Life, ‘Art From the Ashes’ Series (detail), 2016
    William Stranger, Set Fire to My Own Life, ‘Art From the Ashes’ Series (detail), 2016
  • William Stranger, Set Fire to My Own Life, ‘Art From the Ashes’ Series (detail), 2016
    William Stranger, Set Fire to My Own Life, ‘Art From the Ashes’ Series (detail), 2016
  • William Stranger, Set Fire to My Own Life, ‘Art From the Ashes’ Series, 2016 (l). Mia Hall, Concrete Chandelier, 2014 (r).
    William Stranger, Set Fire to My Own Life, ‘Art From the Ashes’ Series, 2016 (l). Mia Hall, Concrete Chandelier, 2014 (r).
  • Julie Morringello, Pattypan, 2015
    Julie Morringello, Pattypan, 2015
  • Julie Morringello, Pattypan, 2015
    Julie Morringello, Pattypan, 2015

Photos by Madison Metro