Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 6 hours ago
The Persistent Glow: Conservation and Continuity of Neon Artworks is a symposium hosted by the Art Institute of Chicago’s Conservation and Science department on October 15. The program brought together 11 presentations and two panel discussions highlighting real-world examples of neon fabrication, conservation practice, and education. These presentations offer examples of how practitioners are navigating the obsolescence of materials and techniques to sustain the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to create and preserve neon works. The speakers shared examples of ambitious collaborations between museums and the neon industry that shape emerging best practices—insights that have yet to be widely shared across the field.
The symposium was organized into two sessions. Part 1, “Network and Ecosystem of Care,” features talks by neon artists, educators, and suppliers addressing the risks facing the craft and the systems that support it. Part 2, “Care at the Artwork Level,” focuses on case studies presented by art conservators, neon conservators, and a neon artist–curator, highlighting the conservation of specific neon artworks.
The event information and speaker bios can be found here:
sites.google.com/artic.edu/aic-conservation-of-neon/symposium
0:00 Francesca Casadio, Welcome Remarks
4:02 Taylor Healy, Introduction
12:52 Kacie Lees
30:59 Chankalun
49:47 Tommy Gustaffschiöld
1:07:08 Zoelle Nagib
1:25:14 Mike Sweet
1:44:35 Panel Discussion
2:14:29 Q+A
Part II: youtu.be/7Xb8Grk9mU8
The Persistent Glow: Conservation and Continuity of Neon Artworks is a symposium hosted by the Art Institute of Chicago’s Conservation and Science department on October 15. The program brought together 11 presentations and two panel discussions highlighting real-world examples of neon fabrication, conservation practice, and education. These presentations offer examples of how practitioners are navigating the obsolescence of materials and techniques to sustain the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to create and preserve neon works. The speakers shared examples of ambitious collaborations between museums and the neon industry that shape emerging best practices—insights that have yet to be widely shared across the field.
The symposium was organized into two sessions. Part 1, “Network and Ecosystem of Care,” features talks by neon artists, educators, and suppliers addressing the risks facing the craft and the systems that support it. Part 2, “Care at the Artwork Level,” focuses on case studies presented by art conservators, neon conservators, and a neon artist–curator, highlighting the conservation of specific neon artworks.
The event information and speaker bios can be found here:
sites.google.com/artic.edu/aic-conservation-of-neon/symposium
0:00 Francesca Casadio, Welcome Remarks
4:02 Taylor Healy, Introduction
12:52 Kacie Lees
30:59 Chankalun
49:47 Tommy Gustaffschiöld
1:07:08 Zoelle Nagib
1:25:14 Mike Sweet
1:44:35 Panel Discussion
2:14:29 Q+A
Part II: youtu.be/7Xb8Grk9mU8
