Sessions #6

Burlington Sessions #6: A New Language of Lighting

 

Listen to Lighting Designers and Artists to find out more about their passions on lighting architecture.

Highlights

Signify and the Lighting Academy hosted the 6th Burlington Sessions, a CoCreate aimed at bringing together world renown lighting artists and designers. 

 

Our goal is to engage with extreme/ fringe lighting artists and designers – those who inspire us, push the limits of what lighting can do and create a new language of lighting.

 

The 6th edition happened on June 26 - 27, 2025. 

Find out who have been our guests this time and listen to them by viewing the videos below

Our Guests

Claudia Costa
Claudia Costa (Portugal)
Cláudia Costa (b. 1980, Portugal) is a curator, artist, and architect with over 20 years of experience. She holds a degree in Architecture (Porto, 2003), a Master’s in Lighting Design (Madrid, 2008), and completed Executive Education in Curating at the Royal College of Art (London, 2024).
Cláudia has been awarded, published, and exhibited internationally. Her work is known for creating sustainable and large-scale installations that elevate human experience through light. In 2018 to 2020, she was the Creative Director  for the light art festival: "LIGHTME Lusail" in Qatar, in 2022 she was invited to be part of the creative team for the Boulevard Activation Fest during the FIFA World Cup. Currently based in Portugal, she leads Fierce-Art, developing public art across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Her practice focuses on universal values and collective belonging, using light as a common language.

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Kara
Kara O’Grady 

Kara O’Grady’s diverse portfolio includes projects ranging from ABC Studios to Vapiano restaurants. Kara is not new to the world of lighting design. Since graduating from North Carolina School of the Arts with a BFA in Lighting Design, her career has spanned the gamut from dance to systems integration. Starting out lighting opera and dance Kara traveled up and down the East Coast designing in multiple venues.

 

In New York, Kara joined PRG Systems, working on

permanent installations that involved creating and renovating theaters, TV studios, and transforming the NYC skyline with light. Kara’s love of creating immersive environments and aversion to inconsistent color temperatures led her to specialize in Architectural Lighting Design. When Kara is not improving the world through better lighting, she enjoys running 13.1 miles for shiny medals.

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Kek Hian Wee

Ton Kek

 

Ton Kek has been a lighting designer for over 20 years, bringing a wealth of experience from working with various reputable lighting companies. He began his career as an interior designer but discovered his passion for lighting design after visiting one of his mentor’s projects during his school years. Since then, Ton has been actively involved in the design and project management of both small- and large-scale developments, including numerous international hospitality projects. These experiences have helped him develop strong analytical skills and effective problem-solving techniques. His lighting design approach is rooted in a deep understanding of spatial design, allowing him to integrate appropriate lighting techniques that foster a visual dialogue between the space and its users. 

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Michael Sestak
Michael Sestak

MICHAEL SESTAK is an artist and designer using light as his medium.

In 2000 his life-long fascination with light in its various forms compelled him to transition from the culinary arts to the world of residential and commercial lighting design.

He enjoys bringing exterior illumination to enhance residential grounds and gardens and bringing dynamic lighting effects to commercial and civic locations to enhance the nighttime experience.

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