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ABOUT KASUM MANIFOLD
Art that belongs to everyone, built to outlast us all.
At our core, Kasum MANIFOLD is an artist-led public art studio and creative partner. We believe public art is not an ornament dropped onto a plaza; it is civic infrastructure. It is the physical anchor where community memories, cultural identity, and daily human movement cross paths.
We collaborate with city planners, architects, neighborhood groups, and private visionaries to imagine, design, and install monumental works of art. But bringing big creative visions to life requires more than passion—it demands someone who knows how to talk to city council on Tuesday, sit with neighborhood elders on Thursday, and guide a 40-ton crane lift on Saturday. We walk that entire journey alongside you, translating bold dreams into permanent physical reality without losing the soul of the work along the way.
HOW WE WORK
Listening & Concept Creation
Every project starts with the people who will live with it. We dig into the archival history of a site, listen to the quiet stories of the community, and translate those shared values into original, site-specific concepts. Whether we are creating an original work from our own studio or partnering with another artist to scale up their vision, the story of the place always leads.
Bridging the Creative and the Practical
A brilliant concept means nothing if it gets value-engineered into mediocrity or stalled in zoning reviews. Because our roots run deep in the licensed building trades and architectural design, we speak the language of structural engineers, general contractors, and safety inspectors. We handle the calculations, modeling, and the code compliance so the artistic intent stays pure, protected, and fully realizable.
Building for Generations
We partner with the finest foundries, industrial fabricators, laser cutters, craftspeople, and artisans. From selecting alloys that weather beautifully to overseeing the final rigging and anchoring, we ensure every weld and finish is built to withstand curious hands, harsh weather, and decades of civic life.
THE STANDARDS WE STAND BY
Respect for Public Funds
We treat municipal budgets and donor contributions with deep care. By establishing realistic, transparent cost models from day one, we eliminate financial surprises, scope cuts, and awkward committee meetings.
Predictable, Drama-Free Delivery
Public projects involve complex schedules and multiple agencies. We run disciplined timelines that keep projects on track over 12-to-18-month lifecycles, giving project stakeholders steady confidence from kickoff to dedication day.
Built to Weather 50+ Years
We build for the long haul. Materials, finishes, and structural connections are chosen to look stunning on opening day and require minimal maintenance for decades to come, even in high-wind and storm-prone locales.
Deep Collaborative Respect
We don't bring ego to the table. We believe the best civic spaces happen when artists, municipal leaders, engineers, and neighbors feel heard, respected, and proud of what was built together.
ROOTS & PARTNERSHIPS
Operating as Kasum Contemporary Fine Art, Inc. (DBA Kasum MANIFOLD), the firm is a certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) and a Native American-owned enterprise (Citizen Potawatomi Nation / Anishinaabe).
Our heritage informs our philosophy of stewardship: a fundamental belief that the objects we place in public space should honor the land, respect the community, and stand as good ancestors for the generations that follow. Based in Oklahoma City, we collaborate with partners, communities, and civic leaders across the globe.
LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR SITE
Every landmark begins with a conversation about what a space could become. Whether you have an open site, an upcoming percent-for-art initiative, or a complex concept that needs technical guidance to take shape, we are here to help you bring it to life.
* Align your project’s conceptual vision with technical and budgetary certainty before engineering documents are stamped.
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* Download the 100-Point S.P.A.C.E. Scorecard, review contract frameworks, and order institutional copies of The Public Art Playbook.
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