Sustainability in public art isn’t just about environmental compliance—it’s a creative opportunity. This session explores how artists can thoughtfully integrate sustainability into their practice through material selection, production methods, and conceptual framing. Using recent public artworks commissioned for the California Air Resources Board as case studies, we’ll look at a range of artistic responses to environmental themes and discuss the real-world challenges of incorporating sustainable practices into public commissions. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of sustainability as a field, along with strategies for positioning their work in alignment with environmental values—a perspective that not only benefits the planet but can also help artists stand out and lead in a shifting cultural landscape.
Noé Montes is an artist based in Los Angeles. For more than 20 years, his work has documented underrepresented communities to effect change through storytelling, education, and advocacy around social, economic, and environmental issues. The themes of his work are personal and community development, with a strong focus on the social issues that are shaping a new American narrative. As a facilitator, he has extensive experience working with educational, cultural, civic institutions and non-profit organizations both regionally in California and across the country. His list of commissions includes work for the Annenberg Foundation, the California Air Resources Board, the California Community Foundation, The Getty Foundation, L.A. Metro and The Palm Springs Art Museum. His exhibition Noé Montes: Regional History is on view at the Riverside Art Museum through April 2026.