about Art and Architecture

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Fabricator, Producer & Founder of American Fiberglass

JB Donaldson founded American Fiberglass in 1970, and over the more than five decades since, has established himself as the most experienced fabricator of fine art and architectural fiberglass.

A fifth-generation Arizonan whose family has worked the land along the Gila River since the Arizona Territory era, JB brings to every project a rare combination of frontier self-reliance, financial acumen, and deep material expertise. His capabilities span translucent and structural fiberglass, stainless steel fabrication and aquascape design. He has created many types of custom architectural lighting. JB gives very project the full-spectrum support it needs from concept through completion.

Among his most recognized works are four 34-foot diameter translucent fiberglass cylinders rising nine stories at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport — recognized as the world's largest architectural fiberglass installations. He has led his art team to create sculptures at El Paso International Airport and multiple installations for Valley Metro's Light Rail System in Phoenix.

JB collaborates closely with artists, architects, engineers, and contractors at every phase, ensuring that ambitious artistic vision is met with equally rigorous engineering and execution.

Lead Artist & Master Sculptor

Clarke Riedy is a sculptor and master fabricator with over fifty years of experience delivering site-specific artworks for public agencies, municipalities, and institutional clients. His work spans concept development, engineering coordination, fabrication, and installation of large-scale public art, with a consistent focus on durability, safety, and long-term performance in demanding environments.

He trained through a four-year Renaissance atelier-style apprenticeship under Master Sculptor John Waddell, establishing a foundation in classical design principles and disciplined execution. As a Master Foundryman, Riedy integrates expertise in bronze, cast aluminum, and fiberglass directly into the design and fabrication process, ensuring continuity from artistic intent through final construction.

Riedy has worked extensively with fiberglass since 1978, positioning him as an early adopter of the material in public art applications. His work emphasizes structural integrity, weather resistance, and lifecycle durability—key considerations for transportation systems, civic infrastructure, and outdoor installations.

Selected projects include permanent installations at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, Chase Field, and the Arizona State Capitol. Notable works include Helios, the Charles Trumbull Hayden Founders Monument, The Art of the Autograph, and El Pasaje, each delivered in coordination with public stakeholders and project teams.

Recent work includes Resilient Light (Phoenix Bird), commissioned for Valley Metro Light Rail and completed in 2025, with additional large-scale installations scheduled for completion in 2026. These projects demonstrate proven capability in delivering complex, schedule-driven public art installations that meet agency requirements for safety, durability, and visual impact.

Tod Williams & Billie Tsien (TWBTA)

We have had the opportunity to work with Tod Williams and Billie Tsien of Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects(TWBTA), whose globally respected approach to architecture emphasizes clarity, craftsmanship, and human-centered design. Widely recognized for the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, and Obama Center in Chicago, their work reflects a refined integration of materials, light, and form. Work for the Phoenix Art Museum.

Rem Koolhaas (OMA)

We have collaborated with Rem Koolhaas of OMA (Office for Metropolitan Architecture), engaging his globally influential perspective on architecture and urbanism. Known for landmark projects such as the Seattle Central Library, Koolhaas brings bold, analytical design thinking to complex challenges. Prada Store, Beverly Hills, CA

Will Bruder

We have worked with Will Bruder of Will Bruder Architects, whose Southwest-informed design philosophy emphasizes climate responsiveness, material honesty, and integration with the surrounding environment. He is best known for the Burton Barr Central Library in Phoenix, a benchmark for desert-responsive civic architecture. Templeton Mansion in Paradise Valley, Henkle Dial Building Ampatheater in Scottsdale AZ, Mad River Rafting, Montana.

Prof. George Bates

We continue to collaborate with Prof. George Bates, whose academic and professional work bridges architectural design, material research, and fabrication methodologies. Currently a faculty member at Parsons School of Design at The New School, Bates brings a rigorous, research-driven perspective to complex projects. 

Jody Pinto

We have had the opportunity to collaborate with Jody Pinto, an environmental artist and designer whose work bridges public art, architecture, infrastructure, and landscape. She is known for integrating light, material, and civic space into works of lasting public presence, Our collaborative projects together include the award-winning Santa Monica Beacon / Beacon Overlook, Fort Lauderdale Airport and the Charlotte, North Carolina Light Rail markers.

Steve Martino

We have collaborated with Steve Martino, the nationally recognized landscape architect whose work is known for its sculptural clarity, desert sensitivity, and disciplined integration of architecture and site. We worked with Steve on the design for the Palm Springs residence of Marc Ware of Hot Cotton reflecting a distinctive approach to form, color, climate, and outdoor space.