C.W. Quigley
CHRISTOPHER W. QUIGLEY
Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia 604-710-9126 | cq@alchemiaartwork.org www.alchemiaartworkshop.org
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR • CREATIVE DIRECTOR • BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE
EXECUTIVE PROFILE
Executive creative leader with more than 20 years of experience building organizations, leading multidisciplinary design initiatives, developing strategic partnerships, and driving business growth throughout Canada and the United States. Founder of organizations spanning architectural lighting, public art, experiential design, and nonprofit leadership, with a demonstrated record of generating more than US$60 million in project opportunities while leading complex projects involving architects, designers, manufacturers, municipalities, universities, cultural institutions, and government. Known for combining creative vision with commercial strategy, executive leadership, and organizational growth to build partnerships, launch innovative initiatives, and deliver meaningful cultural and design outcomes.
EXECUTIVE HIGHLIGHTS
• Generated more than US$80 million in project opportunities throughout North America.
• Founded and scaled multiple organizations across commercial design, public art, nonprofit leadership, and cultural programming.
• More than 20 years leading business development, strategic partnerships, and multidisciplinary design initiatives.
• Established strategic partnerships with municipalities, Members of Parliament, Senators, universities, advocacy organizations, architects, manufacturers, and cultural institutions.
• Directed multidisciplinary projects from concept through fabrication, installation, and completion.
• Built organizations through governance, strategic planning, fundraising, sponsorship, communications, and stakeholder engagement.
• Responsible for financial planning, contract negotiation, budget oversight, and strategic growth initiatives.
CORE EXECUTIVE COMPETENCIES
Executive Leadership • Creative Direction • Business Development • Strategic Planning • Organizational Growth • Operational Leadership • Revenue Growth • Board Governance • Partnership Development • Stakeholder Engagement • Public Speaking • Interior Design • Lighting Design • Experiential Design • Public Art • Project Delivery
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Founder & Executive Director | ALCHEMIA Art Workshop | 2025–Present
Provide executive leadership for a national nonprofit dedicated to immersive public art, civic engagement, and social impact.
• Founded Canada's newest nonprofit dedicated to immersive public art and civic engagement.
• Conceived and currently lead Transformation of Dangerous Spaces, a national experiential public art initiative addressing gender-based violence through immersive design.
• Created The Listening Room, an innovative storytelling initiative connecting community members, educators, advocates, and civic leaders.
• Established strategic partnerships with municipalities, nonprofit organizations, federal representatives, researchers, advocacy organizations, and cultural institutions across Canada.
• Serve as Executive Director responsible for organizational strategy, governance, fundraising, communications, stakeholder engagement, and public representation.
Founder, CEO & Creative Director | Agency Custom | 2018–2025
Founded and led an international architectural lighting and public art consultancy serving clients throughout Canada and the United States.
• Generated more than US$38 million in project opportunities through strategic business development, executive client engagement, and manufacturer partnerships.
• Directed executive relationships with internationally recognized architects, designers, developers, manufacturers, and institutional clients.
• Directed multidisciplinary teams of architects, designers, fabricators, manufacturers, consultants, and contractors through all phases of project delivery across North America.
• Negotiated strategic manufacturer partnerships and represented 17 premium international design brands.
• Oversaw project planning, contract negotiations, project budgets, production coordination, schedules, risk management, and client communications for complex architectural lighting and public art installations.
US Lead, Business Development & Project Management | Lumid | New York
• Generated more than US$24 million in project opportunities by expanding Lumid's presence within the U.S. architectural lighting market through strategic business development and executive client engagement.
• Expanded relationships with leading U.S. architecture and design firms.
• Managed integrated lighting projects through design, specification, fabrication, and installation.
Architectural Lighting & Design Representative | CDM2 Lightworks
• Represented premium architectural lighting manufacturers throughout Western Canada.
• Generated more than US$20 million in project opportunities through long-term strategic relationships with architects, designers, developers, municipalities, and institutional clients.
• Supported design development, specifications, presentations, and long-term business growth.
CAREER IMPACT
• Generated more than US$80 million in project opportunities over the course of my career.
• Founded multiple organizations spanning commercial design, nonprofit leadership, and cultural programming.
• Built national partnerships across government, nonprofit, education, and private sectors.
• Directed multidisciplinary creative initiatives throughout Canada and the United States.
• Bridged creative vision with commercial strategy to deliver complex architectural lighting, public art, and experiential design projects.
SELECTED PROJECT EXPERIENCE
• South Street Seaport Historical Lighting
• Conrad Hotel – Washington, DC
• Georgia Tech Library- Derek Porter Installation
• Brookfield Place -Calgary Public Art -Ben Rubin
• South Dakota State University Theatre
• University of British Columbia donor recognition installation- Susan Mavor/Public Architecture
• CoStar Campus integrated media façade.
• Cleveland Ohio public chandelier installation
• South Granville Steel Trees- Public Art-Wall Group/Chris Dorey Architect
EDUCATION
Interior Design – Art Institute of Vancouver Urban Design Studies – Simon Fraser University
