City of El Segundo, El Segundo Art Walk Foundation, and Snap Inc. Expand Augmented Reality Public Art Program Surpasses 3 Million Views
El Segundo, CA — The El Segundo Art Walk Foundation (ESAWf), in partnership with the City of El Segundo, Reality Experience Design (RED), and Snap Inc., proudly announces major milestones in the city’s Augmented Reality (AR) Public Arts Initiative. Since launching the El Segundo AR Map in 2023, the program has transformed how residents and visitors discover public art—now surpassing 3.15 million views, 3.10 million plays, and 7,000+ shares across its interactive AR experiences.
Originally introduced during the El Segundo Art Walk three years ago, the initiative brought together local artists, technologists, and community partners to create a unified, interactive way to explore the city’s public art. Today, the El Segundo AR Map highlights 9 AR‑enhanced murals and installations, each accessible through Snap’s Lens technology and viewable on Snapchat by searching @ElSegundoAR.
“El Segundo has always been a place where creativity and innovation intersect, and our AR Public Art Initiative is a perfect example of that spirit in action,” said Mayor Chris Pimentel. “By blending technology with the incredible talent of our local artists, we’re making public art more accessible, more interactive, and more inspiring for everyone who lives, works, or visits here. This project doesn’t just showcase art — it showcases who we are as a community: imaginative, collaborative, and always looking toward the future.”
“The City of El Segundo has a wide range of public art to share with its residents. This initiative shines light on each of these pieces to be discovered and experienced all in one place,” said John McCullough, El Segundo Art Walk Foundation Director. “The AR murals breathe new life into artwork our community knows and loves. This technology is truly incredible.”
A Growing AR Collection: Highlights & Record‑Breaking Engagement
Across 2023–2026, individual AR experiences have generated significant interaction. The El Segundo AR Map now features immersive experiences at landmark locations across the city, including:
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City Hall Plaza / Butterfly Lands — Christian Enriquez, Ada Loong & Tess Dziallo — 3.1M views
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The Fox — Bunnie Reiss — 1.28M views
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Moving Forward — Andrew Hem — 5.54K views (2026 update)
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Spirit of Aerospace — Scott Bloomfield — 4.9K views
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Portals to Memory — Nanibah Chacon — 1.24M views
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Butterfly Mosaic — Embassy Suite El Segundo— 434K views
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Fresh Wave Series — Phil Roberts — 26K–58K views
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El Segundo Entry Sign AR Experience — 7.9K views
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Flying or Falling II — John Park (new concept) debuting at the 2026 El Segundo Art Walk
These experiences merge physical murals with digital animation, sound, and interactive storytelling—allowing visitors to watch rockets launch, butterflies take flight, waves roll, and characters move beyond the painted surface.
The metrics reflect a growing appetite for interactive public art and demonstrate the program’s impact on cultural engagement, tourism, and community pride.
Reality Experience Design (RED), led by El Segundo resident and Snap Lens Academy alum Christian Enriquez, continues to design and develop the AR murals, City Hall installation, and the AR map.
“We live in a wonderful age where art, technology, and the physical world can merge together,” said Enriquez. “With AR, if you can imagine it, you can create it.” RED’s user‑centered approach ensures each AR experience remains intuitive, immersive, and accessible to all ages.
Looking Ahead: 2026 & Beyond
The City and ESAWf plan to expand the AR program through:
- Integration of the AR Map into official city websites
- New AR concepts including the Flying or Falling II mural and El Segundo Entry Sign AR experiences
- Increased volunteer engagement and improved data collection
- Continued partnerships with local artists, schools, and businesses
About The City of El Segundo The City of El Segundo is a thriving coastal community in southwestern Los Angeles County. The city’s vibrant economy includes leaders in aerospace and defense, bioscience, information technology, energy, real estate, creative media, and toys. The city has seen tremendous growth and evolution over the past several years and is home to Mattel, the Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles Air Force Base Space Systems Command, and the Los Angeles Chargers, Kings, Lakers, and Sparks.
About El Segundo Creates The City of El Segundo's Cultural Arts Development Program, known as El Segundo Creates, is a robust public arts and culture initiative that creates vital public spaces and programming, fosters economic development, and contributes to a vibrant community to live, work, and visit. El Segundo Creates turns new development into shared cultural experiences, such as immersive AR explorations that the entire community can enjoy. To date, El Segundo Creates has worked with more than 50 partners and generated over $4 million for arts and culture in the City, including more than a dozen public artworks and year-round programming.
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About the El Segundo Art Walk Foundation (ESAWf) ESAWf invests in community through programs that inspire culture and create economic opportunities for artists, galleries, small businesses, and youth. Its annual self‑guided Art Walk celebrates creativity throughout the city.
About Reality Experience Design (RED) RED creates immersive, intuitive AR experiences rooted in empathy and user‑centered design.
About Snap Inc. Snap Inc. is a technology company that believes the camera presents the greatest opportunity to improve the way people live and communicate.
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Connect with El Segundo AR on Snapchat |
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