1988 - 1994 — Bachelor of Architecture, Cooper Union, NY
Studied in both art and architecture schools. Notable professors- Liz Diller, Peter Eisenman and John Hejduk (thesis advisor.)
Education
2012 - Present — Dara Schaefer/Wondergound Studios
Studio design and production of unique hand made and digitally fabricated ceramic sculptures, and small editions of ceramic design objects.
Art and design consulting for high end residential and corporate entities.
1997 - 2012 — Dara Schaefer Architecture & Design, Principal
Architecture & Design firm specializing in high-end residential renovations. Budgets ranged from $500,000 to $10,000,000
1994 - 1997 — Pei, Cobb Freed and Partners, Junior Architect
Worked on pre-design for projects such as Pixar Studios with Steve Jobs, Israel Museum, and the United States Air Force Memorial in Arlington, VA.
Experience
Exhibitions
2022 — Culture Object, New York City
"Lit: Are We Not a Shining Light"
Group Show which included Fantastic Fungi—3D printed clay mushroom light sculptures
2022 — Surface Magazine Gallery, Miami, FL
"Woman Made"
Group show which included Fantastic Fungi—3D printed clay mushroom light sculptures
2021 — Design Miami, Miami Beach, FL
"DMBX Booth"
Selection of design objects from 8 designers. Included pop lights and Fantastic Fungi—lit 3D printed clay sculptures.
2019 — Perrotin Editions, New York City
“Pop-Up" with limited edition and unique objects
Masson Sculptures, Pop lights and Bauhaus Tea series.
2018 — Houghton Gallery, Cooper Union, New York Cit
"Archive and Artifact: The Virtual and the Physical"
Selection of 40 thesis projects from the last 50 years.
"The Looking Glass House" architecture thesis project, 1994 and 2018. Included other noteworthy alumni projects from Liz Diller, Daniel Libeskind, Stan Allen and Karen Bausman.
2017 — The Garage, Washington Depot, CT
A Hazy Shade of Winter- Group Show Curated by Salomon Contemporary
"Map of Love" porcelain fictional landscape
2017 -- LIC Arts Open Gallery at The Factory, NY
"Fire & Clay" Ceramics Group Show
"Odd Fruit" suspended series of porcelain and ceramic sculptures
2017 -- Sculpture Space NYC, NY
Ceramics Group Show curated by Andrew Kennedy and Magda Dejose "Ronchamps" Porcelain model of Le Corbusier's Notre Dame du Haut
2014 — Edelman Arts, New York City, Curator
"AFTERSHOCK: The Impact of Radical Art"
Included works by Marilyn Minter, Betty Tompkins, Simone Leigh, Mickalene Thomas, Sean Landers, Carolee Schneeman, Rob Pruitt and Jack Early