ashoke chhabra

Bio / CV / for Innovation & Design

    Born, Pasadena 1961

    Ashoke Chhabra is an artist based in Los Angeles. He has over 20 years experience designing and building bespoke lighting. His formal arts education was as a musician having received a BA in music composition from the University of California, Santa Barbara in 1984. While there he studied under British post war composer Peter Racine Fricker. As a lighting designer and artisan he is self taught. In this capacity Chhabra has exhibited across the US and his work is held in numerous private collections. 

      Like many artists, Mr Chhabra’s work continues to evolve.  In 2018 experiments in a type modular fabrication showed promise. The process involved joining a series of like shaped components together until the desired form was achieved. Moreover the technique itself suggested a wealth of possibilities. It marked a turning point for the artist. From that point on he turned his attentions toward executing the first experimental works. He liked what he saw. Positive comments from others followed. Indeed an early prototype entered into an exhibition put on by the Wharton Esherick Museum in Malvern, PA earned the artist 1st prize. Shortly there after the artist set about refining both the designs and process involved in their construction.

        Today what he terms his “Chaos Series” of lighting objects continues to evolve. It presently comprises over 15 variations many of which challenge of notions of what lighting should look like. Some are overtly functional. Other less so. Still others might qualify as abstract sculpture. Chhabra’s latest work employs a unique 24 volt LED lighting system that allows for perfectly even light distribution. His work is especially at home in the modern home or office where clean lines help to showcase the complex forms that are a hallmark of the artists work.

The following represents a partial list of exhibitions and awards.

"realART Winter Show" 2023

realART Gallery, Agoura Hills Ca

"ARTventure" 2023

Norma Hertzog Community Center, Costa Mesa Ca

"The Next Big Thing" 2023

Studio Channel islands Art Center, Camarillo Ca

"All Media" 2023

Irvine Fine Arts Center, Irvine Ca

"In the Abstract" 2023

San Fernando Valley Arts and Cultural Center

"Crocker Kingsley" 2022

Blue Line Arts, Roseville Ca

"Craft Forms" 2022

Wayne Art Center, Wayne PA

"Innovation + Design" 2022

International Society of Furniture Designers, High Point NC

"The Next Big Thing" 2022

Studio Channel Islands Art center, Camarillo Ca

"Slice" Exhibition of Regional Art      2022

Pence Gallery, Davis Ca

"Surface"  2022

D'Art Gallery, Norfolk Virginia

"Strata"   2022

Verum Ultimum Gallery, Portland Oregon

"Regulated Garbage"    2022

Shockboxx Gallery, Hermosa Beach Ca

"All Media"       2022

Irvine Fine Arts Center, Irvine Ca

"Real Art spring Group Show"      2022

realART Gallery, Agoura Hills Ca

"Craft Nouveau"        2022

Blue Line Arts Gallery, Roseville Ca

"All Media"       2021

Irvine Fine Arts Center, Irvine Ca

"Textures, Patterns, Shapes, and Forms"             2021

Las Laguna Gallery, Laguna Beach Ca 

"Innovation + Design"            2021

International Society of Furniture Designers

High Point, North Carolina

“Made in California Exhibit” 2021

Juried exhibit held at the City of Brea Art Gallery

Brea, California, USA

“Leave a Light on”

Wharton Esherick Museum, Juried exhibit. 2019

Malvern, Pennsylvania, USA

1st prize.

“Anatomy of a Group Show 2018

McGinty’s Gallery at the End of the World

Altadena, California, USA

“Fine Arts Club of Pasadena 2016

Honored Artist / Solo exhibit

Held at the California Institute of Technology / Atheneum

Pasadena, California, USA

“Phantom Galleries” 2007

Pasadena, California, USA

“Gallery at the End of the World”

Group Show

Altadena, California, USA

“The Right Stuff” 2002

A juried exhibit of upholstered furniture sponsored by the

Furniture Society

University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA

“Art Furnishing Show” 2001-2002

Pasadena, California, USA

Illuminations” 2001

An exhibition of special lighting

Long Beach Island Foundation of the Arts and Sciences.

Loveladies, New Jersey, USA

“The Birthday Party” 2001

An installation in celebration of wood turning and

Studio furniture.

Brand Library Art Gallery

Glendale, California, USA

“Bright Ideas Exhibit” 2000

Wharton Esherick Museum

Malvern, Pennsylvania, USA

“8th Biennial Works in Wood” 2000

International exhibit

Chesterton Art Gallery

Chesterton, Indiana, USA

“Elizabeth Raphael Founders Prize” exhibit 1999

International Juried show.

Society for Contemporary Crafts

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

“Excellence Awards Finalist” 1996

American Woodworker magazine.

-Publications and Reviews-

Interview / Lynette Jennings Design IV / A&E channel 2001

Glendale Daily News 2001

Glendale News Press 2001

Los Angeles Times 2001

Pasadena Star News 2001

Pittsburgh Post Gazette 1999

Los Angeles Times / review of Applied Practice/ Brea Gallery

Statement

     For me the creative process is non-linear. It is marked by a series of failures, happy accidents, and modest victories. Occasionally the endless plodding is punctuated by the spark of an idea, one that’s by its very nature, alters the course of all future efforts. The work with which I am presently engaged is the result of one such shift, the likes of which has embolden me with a fresh enthusiasm to the point of reinvention. 

      I refer to this new line of work as the “Chaos Series,” so named for the disjointed impression one gets upon initially viewing.  Paradoxically the design philosophy behind the work is one of order and consideration. All work is built up from a component of the same design. Only the scale is allowed to vary. These are stacked up, twisted, and reversed in many cases, all depending on the form I’m after. The one begets the creation of the next. The concept is deceptively simple and goes to show what can be achieved when a simple motif is exploited with artist intent.