Images: Cha-Rie Tang: 48 Years of Artistic Innovation in Pasadena exhibition by Marlyn Woo/Joanne Wilborn.
Thousands of Pasadenans encounter Cha-Rie Tang’s work daily — on the Metro Gold Line, the A.R.T. bus, at the public library — without knowing her name. On January 15, that changes when the acclaimed multidisciplinary artist leads a curator’s tour of her 48-year retrospective at the Pasadena Museum of History.
“This exhibition is like a lifetime’s achievement,” Tang said.
Born in Taiwan in 1951, Tang earned a Bachelor of Science from MIT and a Master of Architecture from the University of Colorado Boulder. But her artistic turning point came unexpectedly. “A friend stumbled across some original Ernest Batchelder plaster tile molds buried in his backyard,” she recalled. In 2000, Tang founded Pasadena Craftsman Tile and shifted her focus to permanent materials. “I decided to concentrate on ceramic tiles and glass — ‘permanent’ materials. I flourished,” she explained.
Her commissions now adorn the Monrovia Gold Line station, Pasadena’s A.R.T. Bus, and the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration. She created Batchelder-inspired tiles for the museum’s entryway, linking her work to Pasadena’s Arts and Crafts heritage.
Tang’s philosophy centers on nature. “Nature is my inspiration. When inspiration sparks, I branch out and experiment with new materials and processes,” she said.
The exhibition spans six thematic sections. It runs through January 18 alongside “Stories, Traditions & Designs: Spotlighting the African American Quilters of Los Angeles.” Space is limited; advance reservations are recommended.
Curator’s Tour | Cha-Rie Tang: 48 Years of Artistic Innovation in Pasadena will run on Thursday, January 15 at 11 a.m. Pasadena Museum of History, 470 W. Walnut St., Pasadena. For more information, call (626) 577-1660 or visit https://pasadenahistory.org/events/curators-tour-cha-rie-tang-48-years-of-artistic-innovation-in-pasadena-4/. Tickets: $18 general public, $13 museum members.
