Illuminate Art Walk - Returning 2024

The Downtown Raleigh Christmas Tree is a staple of the city's holiday season, beaming its light down Fayetteville Street for all to see. 

This sparkly adornment to the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts is comprised of 2,460 lights and stands 16 feet tall. 

SONARC is made of 1,000 plexiglass tubes and 600 LED lights hung in a semicircle frame meant to represent open arms welcoming guests to the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts.

Follow Brian Brush on Instagram at @brian.brush

"Carolina Cacophony" is an interactive homage to Raleigh's summer symphony, featuring a giant Dog-Day Cicada during its transformative molting. This piece celebrates the iconic insect native to North Carolina, inviting visitors to immerse themselves in a light-infused experience that embodies the region's vibrant wildlife and nostalgic soundtrack of summer evenings.

Follow Katie Stewart on Instagram @k80stew

As human beings, we are capable of numerous facial expressions through the use of several dozens of muscles. It enables us to show all kinds of emotions. When you look sad, I’m inclined to comfort you. When I laugh, I invite you to join me in laughing.

These two spectacular heads also show countless emotions and react to each other. Unlike people, these Talking Heads don’t do it by means of muscles, but through all the possibilities of light. Per head, some 4,000 individually controllable LEDs provide different facial expressions in various colours. As they are connected by Wi-Fi, they react to each other, but also to the interference of visitors. They conduct conversations by means of light.

Created by Limelight: @limelight3dmapping | Distributed by Wireframe: @wireframepublicart.

All We Need represents an overarching desire for humanity to limit mental and emotional real estate to hope and love. There should be NO VACANCY for hatred.

Nate is the father of Glas. His 30+ years as a neon artist has made him dedicated to bolstering the appreciation, knowledge, and manufacturing of American Neon.

“...the goal is to draw awareness to ways we all can be more thoughtful in multi-purpose usefulness of the planet’s natural resources” – Nate Sheaffer

Check out more of Nate Sheaffer's work at @bigsexyneon on Instagram

As Raleigh's smallest art gallery, the Products of the Process Microgallery showcases elements of the creative process that are often not seen in a gallery or museum. Creative conversations around the monthly exhibitions are documented on Instagram.

Follow Jackie Sanders on Instagram at @jsandersstudio

This audio-reactive light art by artist Robin Vuchnich leverages noise from spectators and the surrounding environment to animate colorful waveforms.

*The projection comes on at 6pm once the sun is fully set

Follow Robin Vuchnich on Instagram at @xo_immersive

North Carolina is home to the rare Blue Ghost Firefly (Phausis reticulata) found in our mountains, and exclusive to only a handful of locations in the country. This installation brings the wonder of these specially colored fireflies to the Raleigh Area in a festive light display.

Follow Katherine Ryan on Instagram at @kryan.design

Step into the enchantment of the season with this Christmas-themed string art masterpiece. Delicately crafted with yarn, artificial flowers and LED fairy lights to add a touch of magic.

Follow Mara Carvalho Johnson on Instagram at @maraart2022

Named after the famous bench upon which iconic couple Nate and Haley from the television show One Tree Hill (written and shot in North Carolina) sat together in both good and challenging times.

"Don't say I never gave you anything."

Check out Brite Creations on Instagram at @britelightcreations

Neon sign displaying North Carolina's state motto. Translated from Latin, Esse Quam Videri means “To be
rather than to seem." Provided by Artsplosure.

Check out more of Nate Sheaffer's work at @bigsexyneon on Instagram

Born too early to explore the stars, too late to explore the earth, but just in time to watch them both from the comfort of our homes. Cheers to TV for showing us all the wonders this universe has to offer.

Follow Jason Blyskal on Instagram at @night.owl.creations

Check out more of Nate Sheaffer's work at @bigsexyneon on Instagram

Raleigh's famous LED mural Shimmer Wall as been upgraded with new, more advanced lights that allow for easily changeable, colorful displays.

Follow Thomas Sayre on Instagram at @thomassayreartist

Disco Alley is a permanent installation of hand-blown, glass neon lights that move and change color.

An abstract, figurative ode encouraging folks to engage in acts of affection, love, and embrace during this holiday season.

Britt is a painter based in NC working to bring moments of tenderness into the public realm and to cast a spell of connection, lovesickness, and awe within the viewer through large scale painting and mark making. Her paintings aim to visualize heightened moments of realization and the ephemeral, and her works of public art aim to give inactivated spaces visual poetry; fostering moments of deep connection and sense of place in our communities.

Take a photo with your loved one in front of the mural and DM or post/tag @b.l.flood on Instagram and she'll send you a surprise piece of original art!