Meet the Finalists
The search for a visionary $100,000 landmark installation at the new South Laguna Fire Station No. 4 has reached an exciting milestone. Following a highly competitive national qualifications process, the Laguna Beach Arts Commission has officially announced the three artist finalists selected to develop concept proposals.
The permanent, large-scale, three-dimensional public art piece will be installed on a prominent exterior corner of the brand-new, state-of-the-art facility currently rising at 31796 Coast Highway.
A Highly Competitive National Search
This prestigious civic commission caught the attention of creative minds nationwide. The public art opportunity attracted submissions from 79 artists from 27 States, all with demonstrated experience in the design, creation, and installation of large-scale, permanent, site-responsive public art.
Out of this exceptional field of applicants, three finalists have been chosen to advance to the conceptual design phase. Here is an inside look at the finalists, their past portfolios, and the unique artistic philosophies they are bringing to South Laguna.
Follow Volkan Alkanoglu on Instagram: @alkanoglu
1. Volkan Alkanoglu
- Based in: Portland, Oregon
- Design Philosophy: Working beautifully at the intersection of art, architecture, and technology, Alkanoglu is known for utilizing cutting-edge material innovations and complex computational geometries to create fluid, futuristic structures. His work transforms public spaces into dynamic social hubs, challenging how we occupy and perceive the built environment.
- Notable Work: The stunning, wind-like Phantom Pavilion (constructed from 1,162 painted cross-laminated aluminum elements) and the soaring Quill Motion atrium installation in Utah.
Follow Mary Carter Taub on Instagram: @marycartertaub
2. Mary Carter Taub
- Based in: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
- Design Philosophy: Taub is celebrated for her vibrant, whimsical, and deeply community-engaged public art. Armed with an MFA from the School of Visual Arts in NYC and an MBA, she specializes in playful, site-specific installations. Taub has pioneered several public art “firsts,” including using architectural stained glass, bold bus wraps, and interactive playground ground-murals to bring color and a strong “sense of place” to public landscapes.
- Notable Work: Loop de Loop in Charlotte and her nature-inspired, stained-glass public park installations like Deer in the Headlights!
Follow Christopher Fennell on Instagram: @fennellchristopher
3. Christopher Fennell
- Based in: Birmingham, Alabama
- Design Philosophy: With a background in mechanical engineering combined with an MFA in sculpture, Fennell has a legendary reputation for transforming discarded, found, or devalued local objects into structural masterpieces. His “recycled-motifs” use everything from old canoes, deconstructed barns, and tree branches to decommissioned fire equipment. His work is deeply site-specific, blending structural engineering with a charming, thought-provoking sense of whimsy.
- Notable Work: The breathtaking Ladder Fire—a monument built from decommissioned fire ladders standing as a single, rigid flame in Clearwater, Florida.
What Happens Next?
The three selected finalists are now actively drafting their detailed, site-specific conceptual proposals.
- Mid-September 2026: Finalists will submit their official design proposals to the City.
- Public Presentation: Once submitted, the public is invited and highly encouraged to attend the upcoming Arts Commission meeting to watch the artists deliver their presentations in person.
This project represents a beautiful synthesis of local public safety and Laguna Beach’s rich artistic legacy. If you missed our previous coverage of the project’s background, check out our original overview of the Fire Station 4 Art Commission.
Stay tuned to So Laguna as we announce the specific September meeting date and times so you can voice your input on this historic neighborhood landmark.
