An interview with world-renowned chandelier maker and artist extraordinaire, Adam Wallacavage. What’s your story, Adam? When did you start making art, and what inspired you? I made a painting for Santa Claus when I was about 4 or 5 years old. I found it later in the attic and was devastated. I know it was my parents who hid it after Santa rejected it, and they only wanted to protect my feelings, but I stayed away from painting and concentrated on building forts. What does a normal day look like for you? What is your creative process? I spend the majority of my morning drinking coffee looking at emails that I rarely respond to, then feeding and cleaning up after my 9 pet birds. I have 5 parakeets, 2 Diamond doves, a cockatiel and a Lovebird. Who are your influences? I think I’m most influenced by eccentric millionaires who hire craftsmen and artists to realize their visions. Some of the wackiest creations came about this way. I love the “absurd-but-done-well” absurd.

Tell me about the ornate interior of your house. What’s your vision, and where did it all begin? I was lucky and bought a huge Victorian brownstone on a major street in south Philadelphia back when the houses were really cheap. It needed a ton of work so I just went for it and did what I wanted. I wanted an over-the-top ornate interior, and with the help of the skills I learned through a molding and casting class, and with the help of my mom, I started making molds of things I would find at flea markets and antique stores and would then cast them in plaster and apply them to the walls and ceilings of my house. It became an obsession and I just kept going with it, especially when I met my friend Kathy Vissar who has a beautiful plaster studio in Philadelphia with hundreds of rubber molds, and I got even further with my visions of over-the-top ornamentation. You started out as a full-time photographer, and then devoted your energies to making your signature octopus chandeliers.

I discovered a new direction once I started making chandeliers for myself. The original ones were for the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea but I really loved making them and didn’t stop.chandler's banquet hall schaumburg Would you say your art mediums influence each other? acapulco eforie nord preturiDoes photography “talk” to sculpture?moooi paper chandelier installation I like the fact that sculpture can be photographed in ways that 2-dimensional art can not be. I definitely have fun photographing my sculptures, and the whole idea of creating interiors in the first place was all about having backdrops for photos. What do you believe your genre uniquely adds to the life of a person? I like that ideas are possible with common sense and confidence.

I had no money when I started making things for my house. I was able to create things that seemed impossible to create with little money. I like the idea of proving the possibilities that are there to make what you want by yourself. If an aspiring artist were to ask you for a piece of advice, what would you tell her or him? Never get stuck with one genre. If you need to work somewhere to support your artistic endeavors, don’t let it take over your life, but keep a focus on your art. Don’t expect anything to come quick, but don’t let that discourage you. Learn confidence in every little thing. Never get stuck with one genre…and keep a focus on your art. What are you listening to/reading right now? Within the past few months I’ve probably listened to Thee Oh Sees and Dark Horses the most. I listen to a lot of music, and I go out to see shows as often as possible. I’m lucky to be friends with so many musicians in Philadelphia…and the fact that there is always something going on every night near my home.

And finally, what’s your favorite restaurant in Philadelphia? Beau Monde is my favorite. I love the food and the people there. I’m not very adventurous when it comes to restaurants so I tend to go where my friends are. Adam Wallacavage (America, b. 1969), Untitled (Octopus Chandelier #1), ca. 2010, epoxy resin “Adam Wallacavage's octopus fixtures have a sense of humor and whimsy, equally from both a dream and a nightmare. Featured in publications such as The New York Times, New York Times Magazine, New York Magazine and TIME Magazine, Adam's pieces have been displayed in settings ranging from gothic style lounges to plush baroque sitting rooms. The unexpected pairings turn the bombastically anthropomorphic to a sensical under-the-sea wonderland.” - Drew McColley Scattered losses, surface accretions. This item has recently been sold In 2000, when the Philadelphia artist Adam Wallacavage began renovating his Victorian brownstone, each room of which has a different theme, old Charles Addams books were his design manual.

“Wednesday always had an octopus painted on the end of her bed,” says the skateboarder turned photographer turned chandelier maker. “That was pretty much the inspiration for the octopus chandeliers.” Those chandeliers, which he originally designed for his “20,000 Leagues Under the Sea”-themed living room, mix baroque styling with creepily realistic details like suction-cup-lined arms. The fixtures, handmade with epoxy clay or cast in plaster, have evolved to incorporate vintage squeaky toys and Hello Kitty heads, and will be on view this month in “Shiny Monsters” at the Philadelphia Art Alliance. “I like to do a mix of goofy and elegant,” Wallacavage says. Short Songs and Short Sleeves Look of The Moment | Did you know that you can save your favorite artists to a personal gallery with an account? Sign up now to get started Guest curator:Liz Devlinfounder of FLUX. View all top 10'sWhat do you get when you combine underwater sea creatures with elegant and sophisticated lighting?

You get the weird and whimsical octopus chandeliers of artist Adam Wallacavage. The Philadelphia based artist uses traditional ornamental plastering techniques to create working chandeliers in the shape of octopus and fantastical sea life. Each chandelier is created from a wide range of materials such as epoxy resin, iridescent powders, spray paint, and glitter. His inspiration and ideas come from a very eclectic range of sources such as flashy church decoration, tales of underwater adventure, and, not surprisingly, taxidermy. His absurd style is both gaudy and Victorian while still being absurdly fun. Wallacavage’s childlike imagination turns a seemingly normal object into wonderfully gaudy and kitschy chandeliers full of shiny colors and tentacles. Each chandelier Wallacavage constructs is unique with their wide array of pastel, glittery colors and their endless ocean-life motifs. These include green seashells, purple tentacles, pink pearls, and even big, round eyes starring straight at you.