Elizabeth Monoian

About Elizabeth Monoian

Elizabeth Monoian (MFA, Carnegie Mellon University) is the founding co-director of the Land Art Generator Initiative (LAGI) with Robert Ferry. LAGI offers the opportunity for collaborative teams of artists, architects, landscape architects and designers, working with engineers and scientists, to create new ways of thinking about what renewable energy generation looks like. The Land Art Generator has successfully brought together thousands of individuals from around the world to conceive of large-scale public artworks for specific sites that have the ability to harness clean renewable energy from nature. She works closely with cities, universities, corporations, arts organizations, and community groups to design customized approaches to renewable energy installations. Since its founding in 2008 the Land Art Generator Initiative has held open design competitions for Dubai & Abu Dhabi (2010), New York City (2012), Copenhagen (2014), Santa Monica (2016), Melbourne (2018), Abu Dhabi (2019), Fly Ranch (2020), and Mannheim (2022) and has brought in over 1,500 designs from more than 80 countries. Partnerships and supporters of the Land Art Generator include Masdar Abu Dhabi, NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, City of Copenhagen, European Union Commission on Climate Action, City of Santa Monica, J.M. Kaplan Fund, National Endowment for the Arts, Capital Region of Denmark, Danish Design Centre, Zayed University, IT University of Copenhagen, US Green Building Council, the City of Glasgow, the State of Victoria (Australia), Carbon Arts, Creative Carbon Scotland, Climarte, Burning Man Project, Arizona State University (GIOS), BUGA 23, and many others. Elizabeth\'s publications include Land Art of the 21st Century (Hirmer Publishing), Land Art as Climate Action (Hirmer Publishing) Regenerative Infrastructures (Prestel Publishing), The Time is Now: Public Art of the Sustainable City (Page One Publishing), New Energies (Prestel Publishing), Powering Places (Prestel Publishing), Energy Overlays (Hirmer Publishing), Return to the Source (Prestel Publishing), and A Field Guide to Renewable Energy Technologies.

Experience

1. Founding Co-director

   Land Art Generator

   Jan 2008 — Present

   As the world works together to rise to the climate challenge, vast new sustainable energy and other infrastructures will quickly become a ubiquitous part of our landscape and culture. LAGI provides exceptional solutions that inspire people about the beauty of our post-carbon future and innovate the integration of zero-emission energy and water systems into cultural destinations—regenerative monuments to this most important time in human history that can inspire the public about the beauty and prosperity of our post-carbon future.Open design competitions for Dubai/Abu Dhabi (2010), New York City (2012), Copenhagen (2014), Santa Monica (2016), Melbourne (2018), Abu Dhabi (2019), Fly Ranch (2020), and Mannheim (2022) have brought in over 1,500 designs from 80+ countries.LAGI participatory design projects foster a culture of creative entrepreneurship and include Solar Mural artworks in San Antonio Texas, culturally relevant energy solutions with Maasai women in Olorgesailie Kenya, Art+Energy camps, and more. In 2019 the LAGI archives were acquired by the Nevada Museum of Art’s Center for Art + Environment.Partners and supporters include City of New York, NYC Department of Parks and Recreation, City of Copenhagen, 24th World Energy Congress, European Union Commission on Climate Action, Zayed University, City of Santa Monica, J.M. Kaplan Fund, Masdar Abu Dhabi, National Endowment for the Arts, Capital Region of Denmark, Danish Design Centre, the City of Glasgow, the State of Victoria (Australia), Carbon Arts, Creative Carbon Scotland, Climarte, Royal Commission for AlUla, Burning Man Project, Arizona State University, the German Federal Garden Show, and more.

Education

• Carnegie Mellon University

  MFA

  1997 — 2000

• The Evergreen State College

  Bachelor’s Degree

  1989 — 1995