Who we are Chiaroscura Design
The beginnings of Chiaroscura are rooted in the arts realm. Our early design works include the making of artist studios & galleries -- essentially, rooms to both make and show art. Our work is about creating experiments in space, designing sculptural objects, making site-specific installations and exhibitions while investigating new possibilities in design. As with any young practice, the ethos of the studio continues to evolve. Every new project is an opportunity to condition the lives of others, and we take that responsibility seriously. At the same time, we approach each design with a degree of playfulness and curiosity, so we can leave some room for discovery along the way. We would like to construct environments that can stir sensory experiences in the same way that being within nature or listening to a beautiful musical score can stoke the memory and imagination. We work with an understanding of space, light & materiality, bringing in the knowledge from various craftspeople to re-imagine how things come together. The name of the practice comes from the term Chiaroscuro (Italian, from Chiaro clear, light + Oscuro obscure, dark) -- a technique of juxtaposing light and shadow to compose the semblance of a three-dimensional whole.
Archana Kushe Founder & Artistic Director
Prior to founding Chiaroscura LLC, Archana Kushe worked with The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum; the practice of Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects; and Skidmore, Owings & Merrill LLP in NYC. She brings over a decade of architecture & design experience, having started her career in Mumbai, with SPASM Design Architects. Archana has taught at the School of Interior Design at Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, and served as a guest critic at their architecture & industrial design studios. She holds a Master's degree from The Knowlton School of Architecture at The Ohio State University; a Bachelor's degree from Academy of Architecture in Mumbai, and is a Registered Architect with the Council of Architecture in India.