Behind the Work: Industry Presenters at CODAsummit 2025

From fabrication and materials to technology and consulting, the industry presentations at CODAsummit 2025 highlighted the collaborators who make public art possible. These sessions offered rare insight into the partnerships, tools, and expertise that help turn creative vision into reality.

The Making of LUMINEX: LA's World-Class Digital Art Event

Jared Darensbourg, Director of Sales and Service at Panasonic Projector and Displays Americas, and Carmen Zella, Founder and Principal of NOW Art and creator of LUMINEX, shared an inside look at the making of the groundbreaking Los Angeles event. They discussed the creative and technical challenges they faced, the solutions they developed, and the impact the installation had on downtown Los Angeles. The presentation also examined how temporary activations like LUMINEX can act as catalysts for future permanent installations and long-term placemaking initiatives.

PUBLIC SQUARES: A Modular Digital Artwork Series by Iregular

Daniel Iregui, Founder and Creative Director of Iregular, presented PUBLIC SQUARES—a curated series of large-scale digital artworks that transformed city spaces into open-air museums. Like a giant modular puzzle, the project was designed to mix, match, and reconfigure twelve works from Iregular’s catalog, creating infinite combinations tailored to each site and client.

Design for Connection: Integrating Art, Culture, and Function in Educational Spaces

Tanner Flynn, CEO at Parasoleil, and Staci Charles, Director of Marketing, explored how artistic architectural metal panels can transform educational environments into inclusive, culturally resonant spaces. They discussed projects with the Zuni School District and artist Virgil Ortiz, showing how collaboration and design foster pride and community connection.

Disruption & Wonder – The Potential of Public Art

Sean Orlando, Founder and CEO of Engineered Artworks, reflected on how public art can disrupt the everyday through wonder rather than spectacle. He explored how large-scale installations, when thoughtfully designed, transform how people move through and perceive shared spaces—prompting emotion, memory, and reflection.

Mosaic Fabrication: Beyond the Traditional

Ed Marquand, Founder and Creative Director of Tieton Mosaic, described how his Washington-based fabrication studio translates unconventional designs into striking public artworks. By blending traditional craftsmanship with experimental techniques, Tieton Mosaic has collaborated with artists across disciplines to bring distinctive, meaningful works into the public realm.

The Art of Collaboration

Patrick Barth and Dennis Potami, Co-Founders of New Project, emphasized that collaboration is at the heart of every successful artwork. They offered a behind-the-scenes look at how their partnerships with artists shape each project from concept through completion—and how fabricators play a vital role in transforming ideas into tangible, lasting works.

Modular Chaos by Ignition Arts

Brian McCutcheon, Founder of Ignition Arts, and Sarita Schreiber, Art Practice Project Manager at Hood Design Studio, discussed how modularity can be used to embrace disorder and experimentation in public art. Drawing from recent installations at the San Diego Airport and McColl Park in Charlotte, they explored the creative potential of structure within chaos.

Robots & Craftsmen: Powering a Stone Renaissance by Monumental Labs

Bryan (Keppie) Kepple, Director of Art Partnerships at Monumental Labs, presented the studio’s AI-driven robotic fabrication platform that merges fine art traditions with advanced technology. The system’s integrated software and hardware are redefining stone sculpture and architecture—making monumental forms accessible at scale while preserving craftsmanship.

Transformations Through Glass by Bullseye Glass

Ted Sawyer, Director of Research & Education and Creative Director at Bullseye Studio, shared how the studio collaborates with artists, architects, and developers to fabricate large-format glass artworks. Known for its kilnforming expertise and custom color capabilities, Bullseye demonstrated how glass can be both a technical and emotional medium for transforming space.

Design vs. Art: The Overlap in Built Environments by Tecture Design Studio

Kyler Preish, COO of Tecture Design Studio, examined the intersections between art and architecture, revealing how tensions between the two can yield stronger, more engaging results. The presentation explored how design and artistic expression coalesce within experiential and architectural contexts.

Crafting Destinations: Interweaving Digital Art, Architecture & Placemaking by Float4

Alexandre Simionescu, Founder and CEO of Float4, explored how digital art transforms space into a destination. Through case studies, he illustrated how technology, storytelling, and architecture converge to shape identity, engage visitors, and strengthen the cultural fabric of a place.

Resilient Structures in Unforgiving Environments by RBHU

Alireza Lahijanian and Selinda Martinez, Co-Founders of RBHU, addressed how climate resilience is reshaping the way we build public art. From hurricane-force winds to earthquakes and rising waters, they outlined engineering strategies that ensure sculptures do more than inspire—they endure.

Together, these sessions formed a vital part of CODAsummit 2025—offering attendees a direct look at the materials, methods, and collaborations driving the future of public art.

Questions about CODAsummit or sponsorship?
Visit codaworx.com/codasummit or contact Suzanne at suzanne@codaworx.com


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