The Art of Illumination

Please join us for a spirited panel discussion on the art of illumination. Light has always been fundamental to classical architecture and the enduring landscapes and interiors that surround it. From the measured play of daylight on a façade to the quiet intimacy of an interior and the subtle illumination of a garden path at dusk, lighting is both a technical discipline and an art—one that shapes proportion, hierarchy, materiality, and mood.
This interdisciplinary panel brings together lighting designer Matthew Tirschwell, exterior lighting designer Jim Ply of Oakcrest Landscape, interior designer Annette English, and landscape architect Justin Quinn of James Doyle Design Associates to explore the essential role of lighting in the realization of timeless design. Moderated by architect Andrew Tullis, the discussion will examine how light reveals form, reinforces architectural intent, and dictates how the space is experienced.

Panelists will share how early collaboration informs their work, how lighting supports the relationship between interior, exterior and landscape environments and how contemporary technologies can be thoughtfully integrated without compromising classical integrity. The conversation will also address restraint, longevity, and the importance of darkness—underscoring lighting’s power when used with intention.

We hope you will join us for this illuminating exploration into how light, when carefully considered, elevates architecture and landscape into cohesive, enduring works of art.

Andrew Tullis, President of Tullis Architects, Inc., is a well-known member of California’s architectural community. Throughout his distinguished 30+ year career, Andrew has designed numerous custom homes and estates of architectural significance. His firm maintains offices, projects and clients in both Los Angeles & Santa Barbara.

Annette English is celebrated for the bold and original residential and commercial interiors she creates. Annette’s firm, Annette English + Associates, has enjoyed a 20+ year reputation as the go-to design house for the business world and Hollywood elite—all of whom luxuriate in Annette’s innate ability to manage every aspect of even intensely complex projects.

Jim Ply has nearly 40 years of experience designing lighting for residential estates and public spaces worldwide. Trained in landscape design and horticulture, and having studied under lighting designer Janet Lennox Moyer, he brings a deeply informed, nature-driven approach to outdoor illumination. A board member of the International Landscape Lighting Institute, Jim is a sought-after expert in glare control and consults with manufacturers to advance the performance and artistry of landscape lighting.

Justin Quinn is a Partner and Principal at James Doyle Design Associates, an award-winning landscape design studio based in Greenwich, Connecticut. The firm’s work explores the intersection of nature and art, pairing bold, contemporary gestures with structural planting, innovative hardscaping, and integrated landscape art. Guided by a deep respect for the natural world, their landscapes are conceived as sanctuaries—uplifting, restorative, and thoughtfully designed.

Matthew Tirschwell, owner and creative force of Tirschwell Lighting Design, crafts lighting applications with the eye of a true artist and master illuminator. Tirschwell injects joy, humor, subtlety, grit and warmth into his design concepts. He devours lighting challenges and brings a fresh perspective to the industry treating each project as a blank canvas on which to paint a unique vision for the client.

Free for current ICAA members.
$30 for Non-Members.

Current Membership will be verified.

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