Mark Taylor and James Aarons

"Our lamps bring color and warmth to light. Each one is an original discovery, a sculpture of quilted paper, ceramics and found objects designed to create a new world while illuminating this one. "

Mark Taylor spent most of his adult life as an experimental filmmaker. While pursuing his MFA he began creating screen prints and artist books that made their way into major institutions, including the Library of Congress, RISD, and New York MoMA. James Aarons is a ceramic artist. He has made installations for corporate spaces including Kaiser Permanente, Ritz Carlton and Northwest Mutual.

In 2015, Mark and James began collaborating on one-of-a-kind lamps under the moniker Imaginary Lamp Empire. The lamps grow from a conversation between the two artists. Shades are elegant, sewn-paper collages using UV-coated archival paper. Lamp bodies are original ceramic forms enhanced with found objects. Each lamp is a unique treasure with thoughtful details generating surprise from every angle.

Taylor earned a Film Production BFA at San Francisco State University and an MFA in Visual Art at the California College of Art. Aarons is a yoga teacher and self-taught ceramic artist. He holds a BFA in Modern Dance from North Carolina School of the Arts.