Biography

Christoper Poehlmann, creator of CP Lighting, has been called a lot of names: designer, maker, artist, entrepreneur, collaborator, jack of all trades, father, writer, teacher, self taught student... He has built a following through a singular pursuit of designing and building objects that engage him and by good fortune also engage many other patrons. Poehlmann’s exploration of material culture began in the 80s with found objects and re-purposed industrial materials. This love of materials continues today. Aluminum, a highly recycled and recyclable material, plays a major role as does recycled glass, up-cycled plastic and other sustainable practices.

Artist Statement

I built my first piece of furniture around 1988, after a few years of dreaming about and sketching furniture. Having no formal training in design or fabrication, I went to a local hardware store and roamed the aisles, looking for inspiration. The ‘aha’ moment came when I hit the plumbing section! It was obvious from the get-go that I needed to look at alternative ways of seeing and thinking in order to proceed. I knew enough people who had gone through art school and then spent years unlearning things they had been taught. I felt lucky to come into the world of making with a blank slate and a natural propensity to figure things out on my own. Once I started making functional objects, the faucet was literally turned on for me, and nearly 40 years later, it has never turned off. Being an outsider in the art and design worlds has allowed me great freedom. It was obvious from the get-go that I needed to look at alternative ways of seeing and thinking in order to proceed. I knew enough people who had gone through art school and then spent years unlearning things they had been taught. I felt lucky to come into the world of making with a blank slate and a natural propensity to figure things out on my own. Once I started making functional objects, the faucet was literally turned on for me, and nearly 40 years later, it has never turned off.