The Spotlight: Functional Lighting as Illuminated Sculpture

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