Janet Echelman

Janet Echelman is a Visiting Professor at the Institute for Computational Design and Construction (ICD) within the Cluster of Excellence IntCDC at the University of Stuttgart, Germany. Her work bridges computational design, sculpture, and public art, focusing on the interplay of natural forces, technology, and urban spaces.

Notable projects include Earthtime 1.26 (2010–present), which visualizes global interconnectedness through aerial net structures, and Pulse (2018) in Philadelphia, an interactive mist installation responding to subway movements. Her Current (2023) in Columbus, Ohio, and Bending Arc (2020) in St. Petersburg, Florida, further exemplify her exploration of wind-responsive fiber art.

Echelman’s practice integrates collaborations with engineers, architects, and urban planners, emphasizing sustainability and historical context. Her studio’s works have been featured globally, from Dubai to Sydney, and she engages with themes like Plato’s Allegory of the Cave and Martin Luther King Jr.’s moral arc of justice, blending philosophy with immersive sensory experiences.