Chachi Mathis

Chachi (he, him) is an artist, designer and educator. He holds a Masters in Industrial Design from the ECAL in Lausanne, Switzerland, and dual bachelor’s degrees in Sculpture and Art Education from the Massachusetts College of Art and Design.

As an educator, Chachi is a tireless advocate for the importance of tactile engagement and experiential learning. Utilizing curiosity, experimentation and failure as teaching methodologies, he believes that creating objects with both hand and machine not only develops self-sufficiency and awareness, but helps designers become more adept at solving creative problems on any scale. As a designer, Chachi makes use of traditional materials and processes as well as emergent computer-based tools to create strategies for fabrication and spaces for makers. His sculptural work integrates craft, materiality and minimalism, playing with function and form to create self-referential objects that highlight the space between creator and creation.

Chachi has amassed considerable experience and prestigious clients working as a professional art fabricator, technical instructor and freelance industrial designer. Working collaboratively with friends, he co-founded the Los Angeles design company California Carts, as well as international design group Critical Plus Design. His work has shown at the Milan Furniture Fair, the Institute of Contemporary Art/Boston, Gallery Libby Sellers and the MUDAC in Lausanne, Switzerland.