Meet the artists selected for Phoenix Arts & Culture department's '¡Sombra!' public art project

Nine artists were chosen from nearly 80 submissions nationwide.

PUBLISHED JUL 19, 2024

Funded by a $1 million Public Art Challenge grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies, this initiative aims to address Phoenix’s extreme urban heat. (Photo: A Kira Dominguez-Hultgren piece)

Phoenix, Arizona: The Phoenix Arts & Culture department has revealed the nine artists selected for the '¡Sombra!' public art project. Funded by a $1 million Public Art Challenge grant from Bloomberg Philanthropies, this initiative aims to address Phoenix’s extreme urban heat by creating temporary shading and cooling installations.

The project, in collaboration with the City of Phoenix Arts & Culture department and the Office of Heat Response and Mitigation, seeks to offer scalable solutions and foster community dialogue about urban heat challenges.

The '¡Sombra!' installations will be installed in Spring 2025.

Chosen from nearly 80 submissions nationwide, the nine artists were selected by a panel from the City of Phoenix’s Office of Heat Response and Mitigation, Office of Innovation, and Arts & Culture Department, alongside local and national artists and design professionals.

The '¡Sombra!' installations will debut in Spring 2025 at nine public locations identified as high-need areas by community partners, including contributors to the Nature Conservancy-led Heat Action Planning Guide for Greater Phoenix. Each artist will collaborate with city parks in these neighborhoods, working with residents, the Parks and Recreation Department, the Office of Heat Response and Mitigation, and the Office of Innovation to finalize their designs.

Bobby Zokaites' installation 'A Time Machine Called Tinaja'

“As climate change continues to intensify our summer heat, Phoenix is harnessing and deploying unique and innovative ways to cool our city and make it more comfortable. That’s why we are so excited for the support of these nine artists who will turn their beautiful art into shade,” said Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. “I am looking forward to seeing what these talented artists design for our city parks and to the positive impact their projects will have on Phoenicians.”

“We know innovation comes from creative thinkers and collaboration,” said Stephanie Dockery of Bloomberg Philanthropies Arts Team. “The Bloomberg Philanthropies Public Art Challenge brings together mayors, artists, nonprofits, the private sector, and residents to develop innovative solutions that address critical issues facing cities. We believe the impacts of the '¡Sombra!' project will live beyond the scope of these temporary art installations and enhance the quality of life for Phoenix’s visitors and residents.”

A piece by Kira Dominguez Hultgren, a Bay Area-based textile artist and educator.

The '¡Sombra!' installations will be installed in Spring 2025 and later relocated to Steele Indian School Park in September for a one-day, family-friendly festival featuring activities for children, food, and music. The project will also include workshops, educational activities, and festive events for artists, civic leaders, and residents to explore new, creative ways to adapt to Phoenix’s extreme urban heat.

The selected artists and their corresponding installation locations are

Jessica Arias (Sunnyslope Park)

Jessica Arias is an artist actively involved in the Phoenix public art scene. Her work is part of the city's effort to enhance urban spaces through creative and community-oriented projects.

Shomit Barua (Los Olivos Park)

Shomit Barua is an intermedia artist known for his work in ecoacoustics, responsive environments, and emergent narratives. He holds an MFA in Poetry from Bennington College and teaches at Arizona State University, where he also conducts doctoral research. His notable projects include 'SCATR.irl' and 'Degrees of Granularity'.

Jose Benavides & Joe Ray (Cielito Park)

Jose Benavides is a Chandler-based artist known for his vibrant printmaking work that reflects the cultural and artistic heritage of the Greater Phoenix area. Benavides is particularly noted for his pieces like 'Balloon Bridge' and 'Buenos Dias'. Joe Ray is a multifaceted artist, creative director, and storyteller based in Scottsdale, Arizona. Born in San Luis, Sonora, Mexico, and raised on the Colorado River Indian Tribes (CRIT) Reservation, Ray's work is deeply influenced by his bicultural heritage.

AZ (Land) (Steele Indian School Park)

AZ (Land) is an artist collective based in Arizona known for their large-scale land art installations that explore the unique landscapes and environmental themes of the region. One notable project involved transforming a dry riverbed in the Navajo Nation into a 300-foot-wide landscape installation, which was featured in a music video by the electropop trio A R I Z O N A.

Josie Davis & Jenny Boehme (Roesley Park)

Josie Davis is a creative producer and the founder of Curmudgeon Group, a boutique creative agency. She specializes in helping purpose-driven companies develop and execute impactful brand stories through various mediums. Jenny Boehme is a multi-award-winning art director with extensive experience in brand identity, print media, digital projects, and animated graphics.

Kira Dominguez-Hultgren (Maryvale Park)

Kira Dominguez Hultgren is a Bay Area-based textile artist and educator known for her innovative weaving techniques that blend traditional methods with modern concepts. Dominguez Hultgren has exhibited at venues like the de Young Museum and San Jose Museum of Quilt and Textile. She has received numerous fellowships and awards, including residencies at the Headlands Center for the Arts and Facebook’s artist-in-residence program.

An installation by Kansas City-based Luke Haynes, a contemporary artist and professional quilter.

Luke Haynes (Sereno Park)

Kansas City-based Luke Haynes is a contemporary artist and professional quilter who transforms traditional quilting into modern art. Born and raised in the American South, Haynes is known for using reclaimed textiles to create large, visually evocative quilts that often feature human figures and iconic imagery. His works have been exhibited globally and are part of several collections, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Brooklyn Museum.

Feng-Feng Yeh (Eastlake Park)

Arizona-based Feng-Feng Yeh is a multi-disciplinary artist and chef known for her work that explores identity, feminism, and activism through a blend of sensuality, nostalgic camp, and comedy. She is the founder of the Chinese Chorizo Project, which highlights the cultural fusion between Chinese and Mexican communities in Tucson, Arizona. This project was awarded by MOCA Tucson and the Andy Warhol Foundation for the Arts.

Bobby Zokaites (Cortez Park)

Arizona-based Bobby Zokaites is a sculptor renowned for creating large-scale, colorful, and interactive public art installations. His sculptures are designed to be touched, climbed on, and played with. His recent projects include 'A Time Machine Called Tinaja', a community greenspace in Phoenix, and 'Wailuku Wings', an interactive sculpture in Maui, Hawaii.