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Articles by Toni Sikes
Newswire: October 2026
Here'a digest of what's going on in our community: CODAzine's newswire collects the latest news and announcements from artists, studios, and commissioners, keeping you informed about where the field is headed and who's driving it there. The Urban Congacollaborated with Jacksonville Symphony A Cappella was developed as a part of a new music heritage garden that sits along the St Johns River right behind the Jacksonville Symphony.
GGI supports artists public art collaboration at CODAsummit
Live Profile - https://www.codaworx.com/profile/general-glass-international General Glass International (GGI) participated as a presenter and artist contest sponsor at CODAworx’s CODAsummit: Art, Technology and Place, held Sept. 29-Oct. 1 in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The company’s involvement reflects its continued support for artists and public art commissions throughout North America.
Honoring the Art of Public Art
On the first day of CODAsummit in Santa Fe, four hundred of public art's most devoted champions gathered at La Fonda on the Plaza for the CODAawards Celebration Luncheon, a celebration as joyful as it was heartfelt. CODAawards Co-founder Ilene Shaw opened the program with a brief history of the awards, recalling how a bold idea grew into one of the industry's most cherished traditions.
What the Science of Aging Tells Us About Community Art
A recently published University College London (UCL) study into epigenetic aging—the biological deterioration of our cells caused by changes in how our DNA is regulated over time—found that creative and cultural activities may affect aging in a way comparable to physical exercise. Like exercise, the study demonstrates, engaging with art can lift both mood and energy levels.
What the 2026 CODAawards Jury Had to Say...
Naga, submitted by Element 26 WINNER: Most Inspirational “A playful and engaging piece“ — Deirdre MacWilliams RISING TOGETHER, submitted by Bimmer Torres MERIT WINNER: Most Inspirational “This is a compelling and engaging work that thoughtfully references the history and character of the site while presenting it in a fresh and contemporary way. The bold use of color gives the piece a strong visual presence, helping it stand out as a memorable landmark.” — Deirdre MacWilliams Chester I.
Big Art Loop: How San Francisco Became an Open-Air Gallery
Walk, bike, or wander long enough through San Francisco these days, and you're bound to stumble into something monumental — a shimmering serpent blowing bubbles in Golden Gate Park, a bronze woman in mid-motion at Embarcadero Plaza, a pair of oversized lips greeting visitors on the waterfront. These aren't one-off installations.
Why Santa Fe's "Most Creative City" Title Matters to Public Art
This September, when the CODAworx community gathers in Santa Fe for CODAsummit, it will be landing in a place with a data-backed claim to being the most creatively concentrated city in America. A new analysis from IQ2 Analytics founder Peter Zandan makes the case in a report commissioned around a deceptively simple question: is Santa Fe really the country's creative capital?
Find People and Creative Professionals Anywhere: Introducing Location Search on CODAworx
With 12,089 projects in the CODAworx Project Library and 20,862 creative listings in the Creative Directory, CODAworx is one of the most robust public art platforms in the world. Now, a new Location feature makes it easier than ever to search both by geography — whether you're sourcing art for a specific region, researching what's been built in a particular city and state, or discovering artists close to your project site.
Design Boards: The CODAworx Tool You Didn't Know You Needed
When CODAworx launched Design Boards three months ago, we had one use case in mind. Our members had about a dozen others. We originally built Design Boards as a simple, elegant solution for commissioners β a way to gather inspiring project examples, organize ideas, and share them with collaborators who may not be CODAworx members. No login required. No friction. Just a clean, visual collection of work that sparks conversation.
CODAworx Youtube How to Search
When you land on the CODAworx YouTube Channel, there are a dazzling array of almost 400 videos (and still growing!). But if you want to be inspired by a particular type of work, the search icon at the top (next to the Playlists button) can be your best friend. For instance, if you want to view stories about Suspended Sculpture, type that into the search bar and view a wealth of fascinating tales about the artworks that soar above our heads in the spaces where we live and work.
Using Light To Influence Consciousness
Groundbreaking discoveries in neuroscience, quantum physics, and artificial intelligence are forcing us to ask ancient questions in entirely new ways: What is consciousness? Where does it arise? And what does it mean to create work that touches it?
How to Win the CODAawards
2026 marks the fourteenth year for the annual CODAawards program celebrating public art projects that demonstrate how artistic collaboration can transform environments, shape experiences, and strengthen community connections. Unlike traditional art awards that focus solely on the artist, these awards specifically honor the entire collaborative team – including commissioners, fabricators, as well as the creative art team.
What's New and Different at CODAsummit Santa Fe?
CODAworx CEO Toni Sikes shares her excitement about this year’s annual gathering of the public art community: 1. Truly International — More Than Ever Before CODAsummit has always attracted a global audience, but this year the international reach of our speaker faculty is extraordinary. Joining us from Taiwan is Yuling Wang of Blue Dragon Art, one of Asia's leading art commissioners. Huan Chen, CEO of Toquine — the world's largest bronze foundry — travels from China.
The Power of Data: Proving that Public Art Can Change the World
At CODAworx, our mission is simple and ambitious: to prove that public art changes the world. It strengthens community identity. It builds social connection. It improves well-being. It revitalizes spaces. And yes — it drives economic growth. Today, more than 20,000 public art projects are documented on the CODAworx platform, representing over $5 billion USD in commissions. That is not a niche activity. That is an industry.
CODAworx Launches YouTube Channel Spotlighting Public Art and the Creators Behind It
CODAworx, the global platform dedicated to advancing public art, is proud to announce the launch of the CODAworx YouTube Channel, a new destination for discovering powerful, inspiring, and behind-the-scenes videos from the international CODAworx community. The curated channel presents selected videos from the CODAworx Project Library, which displays over 20,000 commissioned art projects from around the world.
How NYC's ‘City Canvas’ Policy Revitalizes Temporary Structures with Art
New York City, a metropolis defined by its dynamic skyline and ceaseless construction, is home to an estimated 300 miles of temporary protective structures, including scaffolding, construction fences, and sidewalk sheds. These functional yet unappealing elements are ubiquitous in neighborhoods across the five boroughs, often serving as a reminder of the inconveniences tied to urban development.
It's Here- Meet the 2026 Creative Revolutionaries
What a year, 2025. As we look ahead to 2026, it feels more important than ever to recognize the creative professionals who don’t simply respond to change — they help lead it. Across cities, landscapes, and communities, the CODAworx network is filled with fearless practitioners transforming space into experience, and ideas into action.
Artists Create Memorable Experiences To Elevate the Guest Environment
Commissioned art has become one of the most powerful tools hospitality brands can use to distinguish themselves and elevate the guest experience. In today’s landscape, guests are no longer seeking just a place to stay — they’re looking for memorable experiences. Hotels and resorts have become cultural destinations in their own right, and commissioned artwork plays a powerful role in shaping how visitors feel, connect, and remember a place.
Artists Are the Original Entrepreneurs
Public art opportunities have expanded dramatically over the past decade. Public art agencies are commissioning more work than ever, and civic, cultural, and private-sector leaders increasingly recognize the social, economic, and placemaking value of creative projects. Commissioned budgets are growing, opportunities abound—and communities are richer for it. Yet some of the most compelling public artworks exist not because a budget was approved, but because an artist refused to wait for permission.
Slow Down and Tune In: How Artists Are Using Sound To Transform Public Spaces
Artists working in public art are increasingly using sound in countless ways: as sculptural vibrations, as interactive audio triggered by touch or motion, as layered field recordings, as composed scores that drift through plazas and walkways. In every form, sound invites listeners to slow down, tune in, and reconsider their surroundings. It transforms public spaces into immersive, ever-changing soundscapes that deepen our awareness and foster a shared sense of presence.
How to Write a Strong Letter of Interest for Open Calls
Applying to an Open Call is time-consuming — you’re gathering images, your résumé, references, and crafting a Letter of Interest (LOI). Too often, that letter gets short shrift in the rush to meet the deadline. But your LOI is critical: it’s your chance to make a memorable impression on the selection committee. At CODAworx, we’ve reviewed hundreds of LOIs submitted through our CODAcommission Open Calls.
Light as Art: When Illumination Becomes the Medium
In the realm of public art, light has evolved beyond its functional role of simply illuminating space—it has become a luminous, transformational medium in its own right. The interplay of luminescent glow and shadow, the rhythm of light pulsing in interactive response, the magical moment when daylight fades and a work emerges from the darkness: these are the hallmarks of artworks that treat light not as an after-thought but as the material itself.
The Art of Layering: Building Meaning Through Material and Metaphor
Artists frequently employ layering as a fundamental technique to build depth and resonance in their work. This practice can manifest materially, such as a sculptor combining various materials to create a composite form, or layering images for complexity. Beyond the physical, artists also strategically layer meaning, weaving together multiple symbols, historical references, and emotional subtexts.
Art that Heals: Creativity in Modern Healthcare Environments
Hospitals, clinics and other healthcare facilities are places of care, but they can also be spaces of stress and vulnerability. Increasingly, healthcare leaders are recognizing that healing requires more than medicine— it requires environments that nurture the human spirit. When artists are brought into the collaborative creation of healthcare environments, they succeed in creating spaces that calm and restore, fostering dignity and trust.
Water as a Medium: Sculpting the Living Element
Water, as a medium in public art, is alive—shifting with light, weather, and movement. It reflects and refracts its surroundings, amplifies sound, and invites touch, creating spaces that feel responsive and vital. Artists harness water in many forms: as a sculptural material, as a design element in fountains and reflective pools, as ethereal mist, or even as the very platform on which works float and unfold.
Obama Presidential Center Expands Its Public Art Legacy
Chicago’s South Side will soon see a major infusion of public art as the Obama Presidential Center unveils plans for ten new commissions across its 19-acre campus, opening in 2026. The lineup brings together some of today’s most compelling voices—Nick Cave, Nekisha Durrett, Jenny Holzer, Jules Julien, Idris Khan, Aliza Nisenbaum, Jack Pierson, Alison Saar, Kiki Smith, and Marie Watt. Each artist is creating a site-specific work that speaks to history, resilience, and community.
CODAworx Set To Reveal First Artists for LG Gallery+
CODAworx and LG Electronics are opening new doors for artists. Through the LG Gallery+ streaming service—set to be highlighted at CODAsummit in Washington, D.C.—millions of viewers worldwide will encounter public art in a new digital format in homes and public spaces worldwide. The new LG service joins a long list of marketing tools provided by CODAworx that showcase the work of our Pro and Premium subscribers, bringing artists unprecedented visibility and new revenue opportunities.
7 Inspiring Voices at the CODAsummit Artist Showcases
Some of the most anticipated moments at the 2025 CODAsummit are the Artist Showcases—short, dynamic presentations where artists and designers pull back the curtain on their practice. These sessions— sponsored by GGI—spotlight innovation, technology, and cultural storytelling in public art, giving attendees a direct look at how ideas become reality.
Structure into Sculpture: 5 Projects Where Art and Architecture Converge
In the realm of contemporary public art, artists are creating sculptures that become structural, creating artwork that blurs the boundaries between architecture and narrative, inviting visitors to engage with space as a dynamic storyteller. Through thoughtful design and symbolic form, each work encourages multiple interpretations, unfolding rich experiences that linger beyond the physical. This is placemaking in its most fundamental form.
Suwanee, GA Steps Into the Spotlight
With new parks, expanding public art, and recognition in Georgia Trend, Suwanee is building momentum toward GEMS City status. Suwanee’s commitment to weaving art into civic life is drawing attention statewide. A recent Georgia Trend feature on “Cities Get Creative” profiled three Georgia cities’ art programs, including Suwanee’s, which continues to be recognized as a model for how cultural investment can shape downtown identity and economic vitality.
Bright Lights, City Stage: Iregular
From Solstice in Montréal and Chicago to As Water Falls in the UK, Iregular’s practice highlights how festivals and large-scale events are reshaping conversations around technology, community, and public space. Festivals have become important laboratories for experimentation in contemporary art in the public realm.
Art and Spirituality: Spaces for Reflection and Transcendence
Art has long been a bridge between the tangible and the divine—a way to invite reflection, channel collective emotion, and connect individuals to something greater than themselves. Across cultures and centuries, artists have shaped both sacred architecture and ephemeral spaces to cultivate spiritual experience. These five contemporary works illustrate how art can infuse spaces with reverence, foster community, and open new pathways to the soul.
5 Public Art Projects Integrating Glass and Architecture
"The history of architecture is the history of the struggle for light" —Le Corbusier Le Corbusier’s observation remains deeply relevant in today’s architectural world. As cities grow denser and buildings reach higher, light becomes more precious, and the materials that welcome it become more essential. Among these, glass has emerged not only as a functional solution but also as a creative medium for expression.
5 Projects Exploring the Power and Presence of the Human Form in Public Art
The human form has long been central to artistic expression, from prehistoric cave paintings to Renaissance masterpieces. But in today’s world, shaped by technology, pluralism, and public discourse, the way artists reflect the human image is evolving. In this article we turn our gaze to the body: not just as subject, but as symbol, surface, and space.
Color and Emotion in Public Art: Painting the World with Feeling
Color is more than decoration—it’s an emotional language. We explore how artists use bold hues in public art to shift mood, spark memory, and transform shared space. From ancient frescoes to contemporary installations, artists have long understood the powerful connection between color and emotion. Mark Rothko’s luminous fields of color were intended to provoke deep, meditative states, while Van Gogh’s vibrant yellows and blues conveyed joy and hope.
Art That Works: Infrastructure as a Canvas for Creativity
In the evolving world of public art, a powerful trend is emerging at the intersection of function and imagination: infrastructure as art. Gone are the days when bridges, retaining walls, storm drains, and transit stations were purely utilitarian. Today, communities around the globe are recognizing the potential of civic infrastructure to serve not only practical purposes but also to inspire, educate, and delight.
Art with Impact: 5 Projects Advocating for Social Change
Public art has a unique ability to illuminate stories, connect communities, and raise awareness about the most pressing issues of our time. It transforms ordinary spaces into platforms for dialogue and reflection — not just for art’s sake, but for the well-being of society. Art for Social Change is more than simply adding a sculptural piece to a park or a building. It involves collaboration, education, and a deep-rooted mission to make a difference.
Forging Modern Heroes with Bollinger Atelier
For as long as humanity has sought to root their sense of place and community, they have invested in the creative arts as a vehicle for remembrance. Memorials mark relationships with loved ones, leaders, and events that shape our history, sculpting past and future values. Commemorative work freezes moments in time, granting an eternal presence. As cultures have developed over time to include abstract ideals like freedom and equality, we have seen the role of art in commemoration expand with it.
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