Urban Matter

What Urban Matter does

Urban Matter Inc. is a Brooklyn, New York-based independent creative studio founded by Shagun Singh that designs and fabricates large-scale, interactive public art installations. The studio's work integrates metal fabrication, LED lighting, proximity/touch/motion sensors, and — in select projects — conversational AI to transform underutilized public spaces into interactive, human-responsive environments. The portfolio spans 11+ commissioned installations completed between 2012 and 2026, ranging from compact anthropomorphized tryptchs (Presence Sense, 2026) and AI-powered confessional booths (Pop Up Confessional with CoCo, 2016) to large permanent civic works such as Blue Print in Denver (four installations along Brighton Boulevard, 2018), Golden Afternoon in Austin (45' x 40' x 5' permanent installation), and Glow Walk in Palo Alto (50' x 8' x 10' alley, completed 2025). Technically, the studio differentiates through proprietary sensor-driven interactivity systems, custom lenticular aluminum-fabrication techniques, and multimodal installations combining audio, lighting, and — historically — NLP-based conversational agents.

Commercially, Urban Matter operates as a project-based commissioned practice with no publicly disclosed pricing. Revenue is generated through direct commissioning relationships with three primary customer segments: government and municipal public arts programs (primary), museums and cultural institutions, and private enterprises/individuals. The studio maintains a lean team of 1-10 employees, has no disclosed institutional investment or parent company, and is structured as a founder-led creative practice with all IP held personally by the founder (© Shagun Singh, 2026). Distribution occurs through direct sales to commissioning agencies rather than product licensing, and demand generation is supported by an Instagram portfolio and a Substack newsletter rather than traditional marketing channels.

Name

Urban Matter

Legal name

Urban Matter Inc.

Website

https://urbanmatterinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Urban Matter Inc. is a Brooklyn-based founder-led creative studio that designs and fabricates large-scale, interactive public art installations integrating metal, LED lighting, sensors, and AI for government arts programs, museums, and private commissioners across major US cities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Art Installation Services

NAICS

Ornamental and Architectural Metal Products Manufacturing (33232), Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (71151)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Arts, Culture & Creative Placemaking Enterprises (BPAGALAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Smart Cities & Urban Innovation Programs (Digital Planning, Civic Tech for Cities) (BPAIANAJ), Media Arts & Performance (Film, Stagecraft, Lighting, Sound) (EDAMAAAJ)

Keywords

• Interactive public art
• Sensor-driven sculptures
• Light installations
• Urban experiential design
• Metal art fabrication

Headquarters

HQ city

Brooklyn

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Urban Matter is a Brooklyn-based creative studio founded by Shagun Singh that designs and fabricates large-scale, site-specific interactive sculptures and installations combining metalwork, lighting, sensors, and emerging technologies. The studio produces commissioned public art, museum installations, and corporate experiential pieces such as Sound Tree, Confessional Booth, BluePrint, Glow Walk, Luminated Rhythm, and Presence Sense.

Product overview

Urban Matter creates large-scale, interactive sculptures that bring together architecture, technology, and human-centered design. The portfolio consists of multiple distinct interactive installations including Presence Sense (proximity-responsive emotion simulation), Luminated Rhythm (movement-simulating aluminum fins), Glow Walk (touch-responsive LED pathway), Blue Print (pedestrian-activated permanent sculptures), Play Array (multiplayer pong installation), Confessional Booth (AI-powered conversational confessional), Sound Tree (interactive light-and-sound element), Golden Afternoon (responsive garden-themed lighting), Airbare (air quality visualization), Silent Lights (traffic-to-light conversion), and Wise Words (narrative audio-visual installation). Projects use metal, light, and sensors to create interactive experiences in public spaces.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Wise Words A 20-foot glowing tree sculpture made from 4,000 LED lights animated by hidden motion sensors that respond to visitors with soothing wave patterns. Designed as a public interactive installation.
• Silent Lights An interactive public installation that converts ambient urban noise into a dynamic, colorful light show, displaying real-time audio waveforms across its surface.
• Sound Tree An interactive public musical instrument combining music, lighting, and motion sensors that allows visitors to collaboratively compose and play sounds through proximity and touch.
• Pop Up Confessional A roving steel-and-glass booth that invites passersby to share stories and reflections, while AI listens, visualizes spoken words, and prompts deeper conversation.
• BluePrint A four-sided lenticular light wall that reflects a shifting, neighborhood-aware image exploring the connection between identity and place.
• Glow Walk A 0.4-mile illuminated nighttime trail of glowing flora and fauna sculptures, designed in collaboration with park conservancy teams for outdoor public spaces.
• Luminated Rhythm An immersive LED installation that translates visitors' heartbeats and breath into glowing, dancing light patterns in real time.
• Presence Sense A permanent public installation featuring thousands of touch-sensitive glass petals forming a glowing tree that responds to collective human interaction across the four seasons.
• Confessional Booth

Named customers11 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability5 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Third Party FilmsminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Third Party Films collaborated with Urban Matter on the Pop Up Confessional project, editing AI confession recordings for a proposed HBO pilot. This was a creative collaboration combining artistic installation with film production for broader media exposure.
• Hudson Valley Museum of Contemporary ArtcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned Luminated Rhythm - a permanent 100' x 8' x 2' installation of 24 aluminum fins simulating Pollera skirt waves, representing a significant long-term installation partnership at the museum in Peekskill, NY.
• Palo Alto Public Arts ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned Glow Walk - a 50' x 8' x 10' interactive light installation transforming a downtown alley into a glowing, responsive passageway for Palo Alto residents and visitors.
• Denver Arts & VenuescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned Blue Print - a series of four permanent interactive installations along Brighton Boulevard, inspired by Colorado Rockies and Blue Columbine flowers, completed in 2018.
• Brooklyn Navy Yard Development CorpminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned Play Array - an 8 x 6 illuminated pixel grid installed at empty storefront in Downtown Brooklyn allowing strangers to play pong together using phones as paddles.
• NYC Department of Transportation Urban Arts ProgramcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned Silent Lights - a 9' x 10' x 44' installation at Brooklyn underpass converting traffic noise into light wave patterns, completed in 2013.
• New MuseumminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured in IDEAS CITY biennial festival with Wise Words - an audio-visual installation featuring stories from older women from diverse cultural backgrounds.
• Arts In Public Places, City of AustincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned Golden Afternoon - a permanent 45' x 40' x 5' responsive sculptural light installation inspired by Texas wildflowers and Alice in Wonderland.
• Nail CommunicationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned Sound Tree - an interactive light-and-sound installation in Boston, MA that changes colors and plays nautical sounds when children run or walk under it.
• Creative Commons LouisvilleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned Airbare - a 7' x 7' x 2' installation in Downtown Louisville visualizing air pollutants on an interactive screen with gamified engagement.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Studio Drift: Amsterdam-based art studio founded by Ralph Nauta and Lonneke Gordijn that builds large-scale, technology-infused kinetic and light installations for public and museum spaces. Directly comparable to Urban Matter in scale, medium (metal + light + sensors), and commissioning model from cultural institutions and municipalities.
• teamLab: Japanese interdisciplinary art collective producing immersive, sensor-driven digital and physical installations for museums and public venues. Comparable to Urban Matter in combining architecture, light, interactivity, and software — though operating at vastly greater scale and with permanent venue franchises.
• Rafael Lozano-Hemmer: Mexican-Canadian artist whose studio creates large-scale, interactive public-art installations using sensors, light, robotics, and surveillance-inspired technology. Directly comparable in the use of proximity/biometric sensors to drive responsive sculptures in plazas and urban spaces.
• Jen Lewin Studio: NYC-based interactive-light studio famous for large-scale LED installations such as 'The Pool' and permanent public-commission works. Closely comparable in medium (light + interactivity), commissioning clients (cities and museums), and project scale to Urban Matter's permanent works like Blue Print and Golden Afternoon.
• Random International: London-based studio working at the intersection of art, technology, and architecture — best known for 'Rain Room.' Directly comparable in fusing sensors, light, and architecture to create participatory public installations commissioned by museums and cultural institutions.
• Jason Bruges Studio: London-based design studio creating permanent and temporary interactive installations at the intersection of architecture, technology, and art. Comparable to Urban Matter in client mix (public commissions, cultural venues) and in integrating sensors and lighting into built environments.

Broad incumbents

• Moment Factory: Montreal-based multimedia studio producing large-scale immersive installations for public spaces, airports, and cultural venues. Comparable technology stack (light, projection, interactivity) and public-arts client base, but operating at much greater scale and with a multi-disciplinary team.
• Artechouse: Operator of permanent immersive-art venues featuring technology-driven, sensor-responsive installations. Comparable in marrying emerging technology with public-facing art experiences, and serves as a potential distribution channel for Urban Matter-style commissioned works.
• Meow Wolf: US-based experiential art company producing large-scale immersive installations and permanent exhibition venues. Comparable in blending technology, narrative, and physical fabrication to create interactive public-facing art, though at much greater organizational scale than Urban Matter.

Emerging players

• SOFTlab: NYC-based design studio developing experimental, technology-driven installations and architectural objects. Comparable to Urban Matter in medium (light, custom fabrication, computational design) and NYC roots, though more oriented to architectural commissions than public art.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/urbanmatterinc
• Xx.com/urbanmatterinc
• Facebookfacebook.com/urbanmatterinc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Urban Matter