Photo credit: Jay Zawacki
I am a multimedia artist and designer with both an MFA (lighting design) and a BFA (theatre design with a concentration in lighting) from Boston University. I specialize in theatre design, storytelling, world-building, content creation, mixed-media installation, and business management. I am a driven, organized, and creative professional with
both in-person and remote-work collaboration and project management experience. Through my artistic practice, I explore natural themes such as sustainability, wildlife conservation, and the preservation of our natural spaces. I also tell stories about humanity and contemporary social issues.
I design, sculpt, weld, photograph, and project manage, among other things. I enjoy mixed media work because it allows me to start with the story, rather than with the materials, so that I can make choices informed by the story.
Outside of my art career, I am an avid gardener. My great grandmother was truly talented in the garden, and I hope to follow in her footsteps. I enjoy visiting coastal towns at the end of winter, when the beaches are windy and open for exploration. I love spending time with my Australian Shepherd, Moonshine, and with my husband, Jay. I am also a huge Star Trek nerd and a lover of all things science fiction. It is a genre that explores humanity and dares to ask the difficult questions. I love spending time with my family. Although we live across the country from each other, we are never out of touch. My family is my source of strength and support.
both in-person and remote-work collaboration and project management experience. Through my artistic practice, I explore natural themes such as sustainability, wildlife conservation, and the preservation of our natural spaces. I also tell stories about humanity and contemporary social issues.
I design, sculpt, weld, photograph, and project manage, among other things. I enjoy mixed media work because it allows me to start with the story, rather than with the materials, so that I can make choices informed by the story.
Outside of my art career, I am an avid gardener. My great grandmother was truly talented in the garden, and I hope to follow in her footsteps. I enjoy visiting coastal towns at the end of winter, when the beaches are windy and open for exploration. I love spending time with my Australian Shepherd, Moonshine, and with my husband, Jay. I am also a huge Star Trek nerd and a lover of all things science fiction. It is a genre that explores humanity and dares to ask the difficult questions. I love spending time with my family. Although we live across the country from each other, we are never out of touch. My family is my source of strength and support.
Resume.
RELATED POSITIONS:
• Resident Lighting Designer (2011-Present) and Scenic Designer (2016-Present) - Boston University Academy
• Lighting Designer/Director - American College Dance Association New England Regional Conference (2014, 2018)
• Lighting Designer/Director - Boston Theatre Marathon XVII, produced by Boston Playwrights’ Theatre (2015)
• Lighting Designer - Next Rep Festival, produced by New Repertory Theatre (2015)
• Event Lighting Project Manager - Event Illuminations (2015-Present)
• Co-founder/Co-owner - Science Division LLC (2019-Present)
• Resident Lighting Designer (2011-Present) and Scenic Designer (2016-Present) - Boston University Academy
• Lighting Designer/Director - American College Dance Association New England Regional Conference (2014, 2018)
• Lighting Designer/Director - Boston Theatre Marathon XVII, produced by Boston Playwrights’ Theatre (2015)
• Lighting Designer - Next Rep Festival, produced by New Repertory Theatre (2015)
• Event Lighting Project Manager - Event Illuminations (2015-Present)
• Co-founder/Co-owner - Science Division LLC (2019-Present)
THEATRE DESIGN SELECTED WORKS (* INDICATES A NEW PLAY):
2022
*ALiEN8 by Kate Brennan/David Lee White (Light & Set Design), William Gardiner, Director - Boston University Academy
2021
The Laramie Project (Virtual Video Creation), William Gardiner, Director - Boston University Academy
2020
*BEASTS by Cayenne Douglass (Pre- production Light Design), Kelly Gavin, Director - Boston Playwrights’ Theatre
2019
The Moors (Light Design), Kathleen Sills, Director - Merrimack College
As One (Light Design), Jim Petosa, Director - Boston University Opera Institute
The Rape of Lucretia (Assistant Light Design), Joey Moro, Designer - Boston Lyric Opera Company
2018
Julius Caesar (Lighting Advisor), Adam Brown, Producer - Newton North High School
It’s a Wonderful Life (Light Design), Tonasia Jones/Tyler Rosati, Directors - Greater Boston Stage Company
Pre-2018
*Still Not by Harrison Bryan (Light Design), Rory Lance, Director - NYC International and Venis/Adonis Festivals
*Sickle by Abbey Fenbert (Light Design), Bryn Boyce, Director - Boston Playwrights’ Theatre
*ALiEN8 by Kate Brennan/David Lee White (Light & Set Design), William Gardiner, Director - Boston University Academy
2021
The Laramie Project (Virtual Video Creation), William Gardiner, Director - Boston University Academy
2020
*BEASTS by Cayenne Douglass (Pre- production Light Design), Kelly Gavin, Director - Boston Playwrights’ Theatre
2019
The Moors (Light Design), Kathleen Sills, Director - Merrimack College
As One (Light Design), Jim Petosa, Director - Boston University Opera Institute
The Rape of Lucretia (Assistant Light Design), Joey Moro, Designer - Boston Lyric Opera Company
2018
Julius Caesar (Lighting Advisor), Adam Brown, Producer - Newton North High School
It’s a Wonderful Life (Light Design), Tonasia Jones/Tyler Rosati, Directors - Greater Boston Stage Company
Pre-2018
*Still Not by Harrison Bryan (Light Design), Rory Lance, Director - NYC International and Venis/Adonis Festivals
*Sickle by Abbey Fenbert (Light Design), Bryn Boyce, Director - Boston Playwrights’ Theatre
ART INSTALLATION AND EXPERIENCE DESIGN SELECTED WORKS:
|
Panthera tigris (2021) - Boston, MA
An immersive multimedia designed experience utilizing scenery, lighting, projection, sound, and animation combined with repurposed materials to explore the impact of cohesive storytelling as a motivator for change. |
Between the Crimes (2014) - Boston, MA
An art gallery of mixed-media pieces incorporating light as an artistic medium with sculpture, photography, and painting to inspire conversations about current social issues. |
Light Conversations (2014) - Boston, MA
An installation in Back Bay eyewear shop, Spectacle, featuring sculptures of Boston landmarks with glowing windows crafted from positive Boston Globe news articles to encourage viewers to consider the lens through which we view the world |
THEATRE DESIGN SKILLS:
Lighting Design; Scenic Design and Carpentry; Sound Design; Projection Design; Storytelling and Dramaturgy; Theatre Education; Vectorworks 2D and 3D; Lightwright; ETC Lighting Console Programming; Augment3d Virtual Rendering; WATCHOUT; QLab
ADMINISTRATIVE AND OTHER SPECIAL SKILLS:
Microsoft Office, Google, and Adobe Creative Suites; Video Conferencing; Virtual Event Management; Personnel Management; Basic HTML; Website Design; Graphic Design; GMAW Welding and Sculpture; Video Editing; Event and Fine Art Photography
EDUCATION AND AWARDS:
MFA in Lighting Design - Boston University - Boston, MA
BFA in Theatre Design with a Lighting Concentration - Boston University - Boston, MA (Summa Cum Laude)
Boston University Arts Initiative Graduate Art Research Grant 2020 - Awarded for Panthera tigris by the Boston University Provost’s Arts Council Committee. Criteria for graduate arts research funding include potential impact and project feasibility.
Esther B. and Albert S. Khan Career Entry Award 2014 - Based on “artistic talent and personal statements about their role as an artist in society, their concern for social issues, and their vision for how they will use the award to help launch their career.”
MFA in Lighting Design - Boston University - Boston, MA
BFA in Theatre Design with a Lighting Concentration - Boston University - Boston, MA (Summa Cum Laude)
Boston University Arts Initiative Graduate Art Research Grant 2020 - Awarded for Panthera tigris by the Boston University Provost’s Arts Council Committee. Criteria for graduate arts research funding include potential impact and project feasibility.
Esther B. and Albert S. Khan Career Entry Award 2014 - Based on “artistic talent and personal statements about their role as an artist in society, their concern for social issues, and their vision for how they will use the award to help launch their career.”
Lighting design.
My lighting design portfolio and resume are available at KayleighaDesign.com. Clicking the button below will open my lighting design website in a new tab.