ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Kelly Akashi's Field Set installation celebrates Altadena's resilience after Eaton wildfire

artist · 2026-05-26

In Altadena, a suburb of Los Angeles impacted by last year's Eaton wildfire, artist Kelly Akashi presented Field Set, a two-day installation and performance. The initiative, backed by the nonprofit Los Angeles Nomadic Division (Land), incorporated salvaged elements from her property, such as charred branches and corroded metal beams, along with her glass orbs and vases. She also replanted wildflowers, including poppies and Queen Anne's lace. A soundscape by Phil Peters resonated on the cement slab of her former home, while composer Celia Hollander performed for approximately 150 guests on Saturday, with around 500 attending the first day. Akashi's forthcoming exhibition at Lisson Gallery in February 2025 will showcase fire-rescued pieces, and she has been awarded the Hyundai Terrace Commission for the 2026 Whitney Biennial.

Key facts

  • Kelly Akashi created Field Set on the lot of her former Altadena home and studio destroyed by the Eaton wildfire.
  • The project was backed by nonprofit Los Angeles Nomadic Division (Land).
  • Installation included salvaged branches, rusted beams, hand-blown glass orbs, and replanted wildflowers.
  • Phil Peters created a soundscape of earth-moving and truck recordings over several months.
  • Composer Celia Hollander, who also lost her home, performed an electronic concert on Saturday.
  • Roughly 500 people attended the first day of the two-day installation.
  • Akashi's Lisson Gallery show in February 2025 incorporated fragments rescued from the fire.
  • She was awarded the Hyundai Terrace Commission for the 2026 Whitney Biennial for Monument (Altadena), a glass replica of her chimney.
  • She has a major commission for a new terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport.
  • The chimney is the only structure left standing and may be salvageable.

Entities

Artists

  • Kelly Akashi
  • Phil Peters
  • Celia Hollander

Institutions

  • Los Angeles Nomadic Division (Land)
  • Lisson Gallery
  • Whitney Biennial
  • Hyundai Terrace Commission
  • John F. Kennedy International Airport

Locations

  • Altadena
  • Los Angeles
  • California
  • United States
  • New York

Sources