ICYMI: Moonlighting 2025 - A Celebration of Creativity, Connection, and Community
PHOTO: 2026 MOONLIGHTING COMMITTEE
Creativity doesn’t stop when the workday ends. For 11 years, the IESNYC, DLFNY, and IALDNY have been shining a light on the hidden talents of New York City’s lighting professionals—and their colleagues in allied fields—through Moonlighting, an annual exhibition and reception that brings art, design, and community together under one roof.
The 2025 edition, held on October 22 at the Acuity Brands Experience Center, brought together more than 400 attendees to experience the work of a record 58 artists. Drawings, pottery, photography, collage, light art, and paintings in watercolor and oil filled the space—each piece revealing a personal side of the lighting community’s creative spirit. Supported by 37 sponsors, including Crescent—new to this year’s roster—and a new sponsorship level for lighting design firms, the evening reflected the growing enthusiasm for an event that continues to connect people through shared creativity.
“As a casual artist, Moonlighting is especially meaningful to me because it gives me a chance to share a more personal side of my art with friends and colleagues in the industry. The atmosphere is always so warm and uplifting, it feels like a reunion of familiar faces and shared passions. It’s truly my favorite event of the year.” — Paulin Tham, Executive Vice President at JESCO Lighting Group
For Kristian Rodriguez, Designer at HLB Lighting Design, the experience was equally inspiring and deeply personal.
“The first time I attended Moonlighting was shortly after I moved to NYC. I remember feeling inspired by all the people displaying their art, and from that moment I felt motivated to participate the following year,” he shared. “This year, being able to participate both as an artist and a volunteer was truly meaningful. It felt like I could give back to a community that has given me so much.”
Through the voices of its participants and the energy of the evening, Moonlighting once again reflected what makes New York’s lighting community so distinct—its openness, collaboration, and genuine joy in celebrating one another’s creativity.
Visit the Moonlighting 2026 Gallery to view the incredible talent on display and all the fun our community shared!
Thank You Again to Our Moonlighting Sponsors
