Lea de Wit creates glass sculptures that glow and shimmer in tones that resemble gemstones and embers. “I love working with color. One of my first loves in art before glassblowing was painting. I approach color with my glasswork in a painterly manner. I layer color upon color to build intensity and vibrancy, playing with varying amounts of opacity and transparency to create depth and dimension. Additionally, my compositions tend to incorporate color transitions to add visual impact and activate the space for which the work has been designed.”

Trained as an architect and musician at Princeton and MIT, Janney creates works of art that can best be described as interactive spaces where patterns of changing sound and color stimulate the imagination.

When artists, designers, industry resources, and clients work together, common places are transformed into spectacular spaces. CODAworx, the hub of the commissioned art economy, has once again partnered with Interior Design magazine to announce the winners of the seventh annual international CODAawards: Collaboration of Design + Art. The CODAawards recognize collaborations that result in outstanding projects, which successfully integrate commissioned art into interior, architectural, or public spaces.

In the fall of 2017, the Waunakee Area Public Arts Committee (WAPAC) fundraised for the purpose of commissioning an artist to design, fabricate, and install a sculpture to champion the theme of “celebrating teachers, staff, students, and excellence in education.” The WAPAC wanted a public sculpture that would enhance a heavily trafficked public location and create an experience for all who gather there. The chosen site was the entrance to the high school because it hosts many community events and is where they could celebrate students of all ages. After narrowing the applications and hearing presentations facilitated by CODAworx from three highly qualified candidates, WAPAC selected California artist Michael Kalish.

CODAworx, the hub of the commissioned art economy, partnered with Interior Design magazine for the 6th annual international CODAawards. The CODAawards celebrate projects that demonstrate the most successful integration of commissioned art installations into interior, architectural, and public spaces. Winners were selected by a stellar jury - the who’s who of the art, design and museum worlds - who reviewed 425 submissions from 30 countries representing over $99M USD in commissions. This year, CODAworx again partnered with The Architects Foundation of the American Institute of Architects to create this exhibition of winning projects. The exhibition opened May 1, 2019, and will be held at The Octagon Museum, 1799 New York Avenue, NW, Washington D.C. through September 1, 2019.

In early 2019, Seattle artist Susan Zoccola installed a beautiful staircase sculpture for finance company RW Baird on the 56th and 57th floors of an office building in downtown Chicago. The warm metal sculpture, consisted of two “River” panels, one copper and one aluminum, spaced inches apart, creating a dynamic visual that changed depending on the viewer’s vantage when climbing the stairs. It was instantly a success with clients, employees, and executives alike.

CODAworx, the hub of the commissioned art economy, has announced 17 distinguished jurors for the seventh annual CODAawards. These thought leaders in design and art will review and select projects in ten design categories, shining a spotlight on successful collaborations between artists, design professionals, and other members of the project team.

Earlier this month Las Vegas saw the grand opening of the world’s largest marijuana dispensary. Not only a destination for cannabis shoppers, this marijuana dispensary, in Las Vegas fashion, is an attraction in itself. The Planet 13 Las Vegas Cannabis Superstore and Entertainment Complex is an interactive art experience from projection mapping, to an aerial orb show, to an interactive LED floor that lights up as soon as guests walk in.

Although it’s certainly a creative and fulfilling outlet, at the end of the day, art is how many artists make their living. Which means that money has to play a role. And it’s the same for art consultants! This is their business, and they have to make a profit in order to sustain themselves. At this point, you may be wondering how the business side of art consulting could possibly impact you. As long as they’re willing to pay your rates, it shouldn’t really matter about the rest of their business operations, right? While that’s true to an extent, the fact is that here—as with any profession—knowledge is power. The more you know about the business of art consulting, the more you can use that knowledge to grow your own business as an artist.

Madison is far from the capital of the art world. But right here in the capital of Wisconsin is the only company of its kind connecting artists to commissioners of art and to the fabricators and installers needed to bring their masterpieces to light. CODAworx has been around for only five years yet has gained recognition among artists all over the world and will likely expand to serve international clients next year, says founder and CEO Toni Sikes. CODA stands for Collaboration of Design + Art and CODAworx provides a website where artists can browse requests from architects, cities, companies and others looking to commission artwork. Artists, architects and installers can also showcase their past works and make connections to get their next commission. This synergy drives CODAworx’s success. “We made a statement from the beginning that in order to create these big projects it requires an ecosystem,” Sikes says.