George Sexton

Life

Sexton began studying at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1966, where he received his Bachelor of Architecture Degree in 1971. Upon graduation, Sexton began his work in architectural lighting design through his employment at Claude Engle, Lighting Consultant in Washington, DC. He continued his work in the field of lighting design by taking a position at the National Gallery of Art both designing and lighting exhibits. This early professional experience working in DC museums coupled with his modernist training as an architect have been the foundations of his approach to lighting and museum design. Further shaping experiences include working as Acting Keeper of the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts in Norwich, England, as well as the Head of the Design and Installation Department for the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco at both the M.H. de Young Memorial Museum and the California Palace of the Legion of Honor.

In 1980, Sexton opened his own lighting and museum design firm, George Sexton Associates, based in Washington, DC, with satellite offices in Norwich, England and New York City.

Connection to Claude Engle

Trained in architecture at Virginia Polytechnic Institute, George Sexton found himself - after graduation, amid a recession in the early 1970s — seeking employment beyond architecture firms and had the good fortune to find a position with lighting designer Claude Engle. Assigned to the east wing extension for the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., which Engle was working on at the time, was what set Sexton on a course of museum work that has been the cornerstone of his professional lighting career.

Lighting Philosophy

As referenced in an interview of George Sexton, "Design-wise, it's about listening to the client. In terms of lighting, we are of the school that you shouldn't notice our work; it should be transparent. ... Daylight is very important to the visitor's experience. Architects and lighting designers have a great comfort level in working with daylight. It is something that can be managed in a way that is consistent with museums, but when making that choice, there is a cost of controlling daylight that needs to be considered. ... Regarding technology impacting museum lighting, there's a whole area of lighting controls, particularly as they relate to conservation and energy issues. Interactive media as well. We need to be clever as designers and consider these other sources (i.e., the whole range of media generated light) as part of the lighting solution."

Projects of note

Sexton has provided design services for an array of international and domestic clients, including the following:

Public & Civic

Awards

French Pavilion, International Expo 2010, Shanghai China

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Boston MA

22 Bateman's Row, London UK

1100 First Street NE, Washington DC

Goucher College Athenaeum, Towson MD

Lumen United Reformed Church, London UK

Star-Spangled Banner Exhibit, National Museum of American History, Washington DC

Robert and Arlene Kogod Courtyard, Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC

National Association of Realtors Headquarters, Washington DC

Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Washington DC

Louis Vuitton, Roppongi Hills, Japan

Cleveland Museum of Art Building Restoration, Cleveland OH

Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, Fort Worth TX

Milwaukee Art Museum, Milwaukee WI

Herz Jesu Kirche (Heart of Jesus Church), Munich Germany

Denver Art Museum, Denver CO

Henry Francis DuPont Winterthur Museum—McIntire Room, Wilmington DE