Urbanauts – Public Art and Urban Infrastructure Sculpture Series
Urbanauts (2012–2013) is an exploratory public art project developed by Sean Orlando and Matthew Passmore during their residency at the de Young Museum in San Francisco. Over 18 months, the artists conducted urban expeditions that investigated the hidden cultural and mechanical systems powering city life—transforming their findings into a series of sculptural works inspired by urban infrastructure and civic systems.
The project maps the intersection of sculpture, urban design, and public art, using artifact collection, design reconstructions, and interdisciplinary collaboration to reveal the unseen frameworks of our built environment. From water systems to transit conduits, the works reflect the vital yet invisible structures that support metropolitan life.
Exhibited in the Kimball Gallery (2012) and again in 2013, the project was supported by Black Rock Arts, the James Irvine Foundation’s Innovation Fund, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. This initiative represents Engineered Artworks’ commitment to collaborative, site-responsive art and conceptual sculpture fabrication.
Collaborative research and sculptural works
Materials: Mixed media, industrial components, urban artifacts
Residency: de Young Museum, San Francisco
Exhibition Dates: October 2012, June & October 2013