There is a particular type of artwork that doesn’t demand attention, yet becomes the first thing people notice when they walk into a room. Not because it’s loud or dramatic, but because it feels strangely alive.

In the last few years, this effect has started appearing in restaurants, creative studios and even private homes — simple lines of LED light shaped into objects, words, silhouettes.

What makes these pieces interesting isn’t technology. It’s the way they behave in a space. Unlike traditional neon, which often fights for attention, LED-based artworks seem to settle into the environment. They soften corners. They break monotony. They add a kind of presence that isn’t aggressive.

One of the studios working in this direction is CityNeon — a small workshop in Chicago that doesn’t look like a typical “light design” company. There are no glossy catalogues, no mass-produced templates. Most projects start with the same question: “What should this piece do for the room?”

Examples of those installations can be seen here → Custom LED Signs.

A Different Way to Work With Light

When speaking to clients, the team rarely discusses “glow,” “impact,” or other grand words. Their process is almost the opposite: reduce, simplify, remove everything unnecessary.

If a sign looks too perfect, they adjust it. If a line feels stiff, they rework it.

Many of their pieces are built on acrylic bases — some printed, some left transparent, some shaped like frames. The technique is precise, but the goal isn’t to showcase precision. The goal is to make the lighting feel like part of the wall rather than something pasted onto it.

This approach has attracted not only businesses looking for signage, but also people who want something personal: a skyline of a city, a minimal symbol, a sports-inspired piece like the now-popular LED Basketball Hoop 

Why These Works Spread So Quickly

It’s not a trend pushed by interior designers or advertisers. It’s more modest than that.

Small restaurants want something that adds character without overwhelming the space.

Photographers look for elements that shape the atmosphere without controlling it.

And homeowners prefer artworks that feel approachable — neither too fragile nor too industrial.

There is also a practical side. LED installations don’t buzz, don’t heat up, and don’t force a room into a single mood. They can be quiet. They can be warm. And they can sit in the background until the moment someone notices them — which, ironically, makes them more memorable.

The Person Behind the Studio

CityNeon’s founder, Dmytro Andrukhov, didn’t plan to become an “LED artist.” His background is a mix of design, fabrication, and a long history of custom projects.

When he talks about light, he doesn’t use technical vocabulary. He speaks about rhythm, balance, and how an object should “feel when you enter the room.”

This attitude explains why many of the studio’s works end up in places that care more about atmosphere than decoration — small coffee shops, private gyms, art-focused event spaces, and personal creative rooms.

A Quiet but Steady Movement

What’s happening now isn’t a revolution in lighting. It’s something smaller but more interesting: light being treated as an everyday art form rather than a specialty item.

Studios like CityNeon aren’t trying to reshape the industry. They’re simply making objects that people want to live with.

And perhaps that’s why these works continue to appear in more places — not because they shout, but because they fit.

Learn more about CityNeon’s custom work → https://www.cityneon.us