Poetic Kinetics
Poetic Kinetics is an international creative arts and design studio specializing in large-scale interactive kinetic public art installations — wind-activated aerial sculptures, animatronics, and solar-powered works — commissioned by festivals, municipalities, museums, and Fortune 500 brands across four continents.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2008
- HeadquartersLos Angeles, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Poetic Kinetics does
Poetic Kinetics is an international creative arts and design studio founded around 2005-2008 and headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, with a secondary presence in Los Angeles. The studio specializes in large-scale interactive kinetic public art installations, including wind-activated aerial sculptures (the signature 'Skynet Art Series' using monofilament netting, mylar streamers, and holographic fabrics), animatronic sculptures with radio-controlled articulation and projection-mapped facial features, solar-powered installations with embedded battery arrays, and flame-effect works. Notable products include the Coachella Astronaut (Escape Velocity), Helix Poeticus (Coachella Snail), Caterpillar's Longing, Liquid Shard (15,000 sq ft at Pershing Square LA), Visions in Motion (Brandenburg Gate, Berlin), Firebird Descent (32,500 sq ft in St. Petersburg), and the Toyota Prius Solar Flower Lounge. Installation scales range from intimate to over 32,000 square feet, with individual works drawing 100,000+ visitors at landmark venues.
The studio operates as a custom commission-based business with no off-the-shelf products or consumer sales channel. Revenue is generated through three primary streams: bespoke art commissions for municipal public art programs (e.g., City of El Paso's Aztec Pavilion, Scottsdale Public Art's Reflection Rising), contracted festival installations (Coachella, Burning Man, EDC), and corporate brand experience campaigns (Toyota, Johnson & Johnson's 2008 Beijing Olympics activation). All pricing is bespoke and non-public, structured per project scope. The go-to-market relies on earned media and viral social engagement from iconic installations rather than paid advertising, with coverage in LA Times, Rolling Stone, Architectural Digest, CNN, and AP News. Customer segments span music and arts festivals (primary), municipal public art programs (primary), corporate brand experiences, cultural institutions and museums, and Olympic/major sporting events.
Poetic Kinetics is founder-owned and operated, with no external venture capital or institutional investment disclosed. Leadership comprises co-founder Patrick Shearn (CEO and Creative Lead) and co-founder Cynthia Washburn, supported by a core team of approximately nine named professionals spanning operations, design, production, fabrication, and strategy. The studio has executed 50+ major installations across North America, Europe, Asia, the Middle East, and Australia since 2005, with active project activity continuing in 2025.
Poetic Kinetics firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Poetic Kinetics
- Legal name
- Poetic Kinetics
- Website
- https://poetickinetics.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2008
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Poetic Kinetics is an international creative arts and design studio specializing in large-scale interactive kinetic public art installations — wind-activated aerial sculptures, animatronics, and solar-powered works — commissioned by festivals, municipalities, museums, and Fortune 500 brands across four continents.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Poetic Kinetics industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Public Art & Kinetic Sculpture Design Services
- NAICS
- Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (71151), Independent Artists, Writers, and Performers (711510)
- SIC
- Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Event Fabrication & Scenic/Set Build (Custom Builds, Installations) (BPAFAGAK)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Scenic Fabrication & Set/Stage Carpentry (MPAGAKAG), Event Signage, Props & Custom Installations (HSACAOAG)
Keywords
Where Poetic Kinetics is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Los Angeles
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Poetic Kinetics business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Custom Art Commissioning: Poetic Kinetics creates bespoke large-scale art installations for municipal public art programs, corporate clients, and private institutions. Projects range from permanent public sculptures to temporary festival installations, with pricing based on complexity, scale, and materials.
- Festival Art Installations: Contracted installations at major music and arts festivals including Coachella, Burning Man, Electric Daisy Carnival. These are typically commissioned by festival organizers with production budgets allocated for art programming.
- Corporate Brand Experiences: Branded experiential installations for corporate marketing campaigns, such as the Toyota Prius Solar Flower Lounge campaign, combining advertising with artistic installation.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels5 records
Poetic Kinetics product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Poetic Kinetics is a creative arts and design studio that designs, fabricates, and implements large-scale kinetic public art installations. Their work spans permanent and temporary public art, festival commissions, museum installations, and corporate branded experiences, including the signature Skynet Art Series of wind-activated aerial sculptures. All projects are bespoke commissions priced individually based on scope, complexity, materials, and timeline.
Product overview
Poetic Kinetics is an international creative arts and design studio specializing in interactive public art installations. The company offers a portfolio of services including Festival Artwork, Fine Art for Museums, Outdoor Art, Public Art Installations, Site-Specific Art, and the signature Skynet Art Series. Their product portfolio encompasses large-scale kinetic sculptures, animatronic installations, solar-powered art pieces, flame-effect art, and outdoor public art. Notable products include the Skynet Art Series (featuring installations like Liquid Shard, Visions in Motion, and Firebird Descent), animatronic festival creatures (Coachella Astronaut/Escape Velocity, Coachella Snail/Helix Poeticus, Caterpillar's Longing), solar-powered installations (Prius Solar Lounge, Solar Sunflowers), and permanent public art (Aztec Pavilion, Reflection Rising). The company creates experiential installations that engage audiences through interactivity, incorporating technologies such as projection mapping, programmable LEDs, animatronics, and mobile app connectivity.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Skynet Art Series: Signature series of large-scale kinetic aerial sculptures featuring streamers and nets that create immersive, wind-driven experiences.
Products and services
- Festival Artwork Large-scale kinetic art installations designed for music and arts festivals including Coachella, Burning Man, EDC, and other major events. Delivered as commissioned projects to festival organizers and production companies.
- Fine Art for Museums Fine art installations designed for museum environments and indoor exhibition spaces, including interactive kinetic and animatronic works acquired by institutions such as the Science Museum of Minnesota and the Terracotta Warrior Museum.
- Outdoor Art Large-scale kinetic sculptures designed for outdoor environments and public spaces, ranging from temporary installations to elements added to permanent public art collections such as Aspen Light in Denver.
- Public Art Installations Permanent and semi-permanent public art installations commissioned by cities and organizations, including civic landmarks such as the Aztec Pavilion in El Paso, Reflection Rising in Scottsdale, and Sunset Vestige in Marina del Rey.
- Site-Specific Art Custom art installations designed and fabricated for unique locations and architectural contexts, including the Nimbus cloud installation suspended 40 feet in the Walt Disney Concert Hall atrium in collaboration with the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
- Skynet Art Series Signature series of large-scale kinetic aerial sculptures featuring streamers and nylon ribbons on monofilament netting that create wind-driven, immersive visual experiences. Includes signature installations such as Liquid Shard, Visions in Motion, Firebird Descent, Dream Waves, School of Breeze, and River of Light.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 100,000 visitors in single installation period (Visions in Motion Berlin)
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Poetic Kinetics
Customer profileNamed customers13 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Poetic Kinetics technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
Poetic Kinetics partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.
- Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival / Goldenvoice EventsflagshipMulti-year partnership creating iconic 'Coachella Creature' installations including Coachella Snail (2013), Astronaut (2014), Caterpillar's Longing (2015), and multiple other installations. These have become synonymous with the festival's visual identity.
- Burning Man / Black Rock Arts FoundationcoreMultiple Honorarium installations including Hope Flower (2005), Holding Flame (2009, funded by Black Rock Arts Foundation grant), and Fire In Balance (2014). Burning Man installations helped establish the studio's reputation.
- Insomniac Events / Electric Daisy CarnivalcoreCreated the giant Electric Daisy installation featuring 45,000 programmable LEDs for the EDC festival in Las Vegas.
- ToyotaflagshipCreated the Prius Solar Flower Lounge - a traveling experiential installation featuring 5 solar-powered flower sculptures with WiFi and device charging stations, designed for Toyota's 'Harmony Between Man, Nature, and Machine' campaign.
- Johnson & JohnsonflagshipCommissioned 'The Warrior and the Girl' - a giant puppet performance featuring 26-foot warrior and 15-foot girl marionettes for the 2008 Beijing Olympics as part of Johnson & Johnson's 'Because We Care, We Act' campaign.
- City of El PasocorePermanent public art commission for Aztec Pavilion featuring solar panels that return unused power to the city grid, partially funded by a federal Renewable Energy Demonstration grant.
- Los Angeles Philharmonic / Walt Disney Concert HallflagshipCreated Nimbus installation suspended 40 feet above Walt Disney Concert Hall atrium, designed to work with composer Rand Steiger's commissioned music as part of artist-collaborator Yuval Sharon's programming.
- Scottsdale Public ArtcoreCommissioned Reflection Rising - a 14,000+ square foot kinetic sculpture over Scottsdale Waterfront Canal, featured at Canal Convergence 2018 and recognized by Americans for the Arts.
- Terracotta Warrior Museum (Xi'an, China)minorMuseum acquired and permanently displays 'The Warrior and the Girl' marionettes after their Beijing Olympics performance.
- Science Museum of MinnesotacoreEscape Velocity astronaut installation acquired for the Space: Out of Gravity Experience exhibition, introducing festival art to museum audiences.
- Now Art LAcoreNonprofit that secured Pershing Square location for Liquid Shard installation in downtown Los Angeles.
- Kulturprojekte BerlinflagshipGerman cultural organization that coordinated Visions in Motion installation for the 30th anniversary of the Berlin Wall fall at Brandenburg Gate, collecting 30,000 community messages.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Poetic Kinetics competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Studio Drift: Amsterdam-based studio creating large-scale, technology-driven kinetic sculptures and installations (e.g., 'Shylight', 'Fragile Future'). Closest direct peer in scale, philosophy, and execution of kinetic public art.
- teamLab: Japanese interdisciplinary art collective producing immersive, large-scale digital and physical installations globally. Comparable in producing signature, repeatable immersive formats commissioned by museums, festivals, and brands.
- Random International: London-based studio known for kinetic, interactive installations (e.g., 'Rain Room'). Directly comparable in marrying engineering with sensory public-facing art at scale.
- Moment Factory: Montreal-based multimedia studio designing immersive environments for public spaces, concerts, and brand activations. Comparable in delivering high-profile experiential commissions for festivals and global brands.
- Meow Wolf: US-based experiential art company producing permanent, large-scale immersive art exhibitions. Comparable in scale of custom-built installations and similar target audience of festival/experiential consumers.
- Refik Anadol Studio: LA-based media artist studio creating large-scale data-driven sculptures and projections. Comparable in producing viral, museum-acquired installations and operating in the LA creative ecosystem.
- The Hettema Group: Theme park and immersive experience design firm producing large-scale themed environments for entertainment venues. Comparable in creating engineered, large-scale immersive installations for paying audiences.
Broad incumbents
- George P. Johnson Experience Marketing: Large global experiential marketing agency producing brand experiences and event installations for Fortune 500 clients. Comparable as a competitor for branded experiential commissions, though broader portfolio.
- MKG: New York-based experiential marketing agency creating immersive brand activations. Comparable as a competitor for corporate brand experience commissions.
Others
- Levitation Arts / Burning Man Honorarium Artists: Independent Burning Man honorarium artists funded by Black Rock Arts Foundation grants. Comparable ecosystem peers who build kinetic installations for Burning Man and subsequently for festivals and municipalities.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Poetic Kinetics social profiles
Digital presencePoetic Kinetics financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Poetic Kinetics leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Poetic Kinetics funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Poetic Kinetics M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Poetic Kinetics
What does Poetic Kinetics do?
Poetic Kinetics is a creative arts and design studio that designs, fabricates, and implements large-scale kinetic public art installations. Their work spans permanent and temporary public art, festival commissions, museum installations, and corporate branded experiences, including the signature Skynet Art Series of wind-activated aerial sculptures. All projects are bespoke commissions priced individually based on scope, complexity, materials, and timeline.
Is Poetic Kinetics a public or private company?
Poetic Kinetics is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Poetic Kinetics founded?
Poetic Kinetics was founded in 2008. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Poetic Kinetics based?
Poetic Kinetics is headquartered in Los Angeles, United States, in the North America region.
How does Poetic Kinetics make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Custom Art Commissioning is the primary driver. The others are festival Art Installations and corporate Brand Experiences.
Who are Poetic Kinetics's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Studio Drift, teamLab, Random International, Moment Factory, Meow Wolf, Refik Anadol Studio and The Hettema Group. Broad incumbents are George P. Johnson Experience Marketing and MKG. Levitation Arts / Burning Man Honorarium Artists is listed as an others.
Does Poetic Kinetics have an API?
No public API is recorded for Poetic Kinetics.
What industry is Poetic Kinetics in?
Poetic Kinetics's product category is Public Art & Kinetic Sculpture Design Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAFAGAK, Event Fabrication & Scenic/Set Build (Custom Builds, Installations), with a secondary code of MPAGAKAG, Scenic Fabrication & Set/Stage Carpentry. Its NAICS code is 71151 and its SIC code is 7330.