Kilroy Reveals Hollywood’s Newest Public Art Installation, SPECTRUM

On Vine — Hollywood, CA
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Viewers from around the world tuned in to a virtual unveiling of Kilroy’s SPECTRUM, Hollywood’s newest public art installation in the heart of Hollywood. Commentary from industry pioneers included John Kilroy, CEO and Chairman of Kilroy Realty and design partners, Shimoda Design Group and DPA Fine Arts, alongside celebrity artists Maggie West and Jeremy Kirsch. Prioritizing the importance of access to public art during a time of isolation, the virtual broadcast explored the intersection of art and architecture at On Vine while unveiling one of Hollywood’s largest and most captivating pieces of public art.

Art & Artists

Los Angeles-based artist Maggie West’s photography and installation work has captured the attention of global brands, cultural institutions, and celebrities alike (Lebron James, Sam Smith, Alexander Wang, Google, Adidas, Smithsonian). In creating the industry’s first all-metal, photographic sequin mosaic, West collaborated with Jeremy Kirsch of SparkleMasters, whose client roster includes installations for Elton John’s Rocketman, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, Disneyland Resort and Coca-Cola.

SPECTRUM’s glittering work of hand-crafted kinetic art spans 65 x 17 feet, five-stories tall and is made up of 39,000 powder coated stainless steel sequins. Each square sequin was laser-cut, custom painted and then intricately hung to create a vibrant, eye-catching portrait. The mesmerizing result, from any distance vantage point, is brought to life using only the power of wind and sun.

SPECTRUM imagines a world in which our color perception is uninhibited by our physical limitations. West was inspired by the classic portraiture of Tinseltown’s former movie stars, and she offers a modern take on the theme with an androgynous portrait of a young woman depicted through an imagined lens of unhindered perception. With the added touch of Hollywood’s glitz and glam, SPECTRUM celebrates inclusivity in a vibrant and visual way. It invites those who choose to engage with it to lose themselves in the work of art, while challenging our imaginations and filling our world with color and escapism.

Architecture x Design

On Vine is a ~600,000 SF mixed-use, creative urban campus by North America’s leader in sustainable real estate development, Kilroy Realty Corporation. It artfully blends workplace, production, and luxury residential within a full, 3.5-acre city block. With On Vine’s workplace and production spaces 100% leased, what remains is Jardine, the site’s luxury residential tower, which is wrapping up construction and is slated for preleasing in 1Q2021. The project is targeting LEED Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council and was designed by architect Joey Shimoda FAIA, principal of Shimoda Design Group.

“The public art was instrumental in the masterplan of the property from the very beginning, and in this case the architecture and the art become one,” says Shimoda. “Given the sheer size of On Vine, we wanted to make sure that we were creating a space that pulled energy right into the heart of the project, rather than simply construct buildings that would block off the street.” The result, a beautifully designed public plaza and passageway, captures an audience at first glance with SPECTRUM interwoven into the fabric of the buildings. “The entry doors and the art become one, and the visitor experiences SPECTRUM as a five-story high passage into the building,” says Shimoda.

A replay of the broadcast is available. 

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