Mr. Tanteri specializes in daylighting, architectural lighting, and art projects. For over a decade, his collaborative works with artists, architects, and designers from around the globe have been honored with the lighting industry’s most distinguished awards. These projects include a suspended luminous glass sculpture in Hong Kong; an underground bridge in Fukuoka, Japan; a sun-tracking misting mast array for the Olympics in Sydney, Australia; and a 140’ tall solar light pipe for a law firm in Washington, DC.

Mr. Tanteri began his career in 1977 as a computer graphic artist for NBC studios in Rockefeller Center while pursuing his BFA in Sculpture from The Cooper Union School of Art. Afterwards he sought specialized training in neon fabrication, holography, and laser technology. In 1985, his light installations were exhibited in galleries and museums and published in several international art and science publications. During this time, he completed numerous large-scale laser beam sculptures, neon structures and outdoor light spectacles in collaboration with pioneer laser sculptor Rockne Krebs and laser technologist Norman Ballard.

In 1988, Mr. Tanteri crossed over into architectural lighting design and entered the MFA Architectural Lighting Design Program at Parsons School of Design. In the years that followed he acquired hands-on work experience while a lighting design intern for Howard Brandston & Partners, a part-time lighting technician for the Guggenheim Museum and a full-time design and engineering consultant for Rambusch Decorating Company. In the following decade his namesake firm attained a unique identity for its artistic approach to a broad range of architectural lighting projects. In 2001, Mr. Tanteri joined with Ann Kale Associates, lending his expertise in daylighting to a wide array of project types. In 2003, he reestablished his firm Tanteri + Associates, LLC.

Mr. Tanteri joined the New York Illuminating Engineering Society (NYIES) Board of Directors in 1989 and co-curated the organization’s exhibit "Richard Kelly, A Philosophy of Light.” He has since served as the NYIES Richard Kelly Grant Chairperson, Vice-President, President and Chairperson of Medals and Awards. He is a member of the IESNA Daylighting Technical & Research Committee and the Society of Building Science Educators. He is also the Cooper Union Alumni Council Vice President Faculty Liaison and a Sid Feltman Chair Committee member.

Mr. Tanteri’s awards include: a 2003 IIDA Award, a 2003 Lumen Award, a 2002 IALD Award, a 2002 IIDA Award, a 2002 Lumen Award, a 2001 Lumen Award, a 2001 AIA NY Award, a 2001 International Illumination Design Award, a 2000 Business Week/Architectural Award, a 1999 Interiors Award for Best Public Space, a 1999 I.D. Award for Design Distinction, a 1998 IIDA Outstanding Achievement Award, a 1990 Guth Memorial Award of Merit, a 1990 Lumen Award, and the 1989 Richard Kelly Grant.

Education

Master of Fine Arts - Architectural Lighting Design Parsons School of Design 1992

Bachelor of Art - Sculpture Cooper Union 1984