Meet Maksym Sukhomlynov | Lighting designer & Programmer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Maksym Sukhomlynov and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Maksym, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
For me, it was about creative control and professional freedom. I had been working on high-level productions for years-concerts, film premieres, immersive events-and realized I had a clear vision for how lighting should elevate an experience. Starting my own business allowed me to choose the projects I believed in, collaborate with forward-thinking creatives, and fully own the artistic process. It wasn’t just about running a business-it was about building a reputation as a Lighting Designer who could bring something unique to every show.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art is light. I design lighting for concerts, premieres, immersive events, and stage shows-and for me, it’s never just about visibility. It’s about building atmosphere, telling a story, creating emotion through movement, rhythm, color, and shadow. What sets me apart is that I’m not just following a plot or cue sheet-I build the visual language of the event itself.

One thing I’m proud of is the trust I’ve earned to lead major productions from the ground up. Whether it’s a Cinespia screening for thousands of people, a Netflix premiere, or a touring concert-I bring the same level of detail and emotion to every cue.

I started my journey in Ukraine, where I fell in love with lighting and worked on all kinds of live events. When I moved to the U.S., it took time to build relationships and earn trust in a new creative industry. I focused on consistency, stayed dedicated, and let my work speak for itself.

What I want people to know is this: lighting isn’t just technical. It’s emotional. It’s artistic. And when done right-it becomes part of the memory people carry home with them. That’s the goal behind every show I do.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend came to visit, I’d take them straight to Venice Beach to feel that laid-back California vibe, grab coffee at Great White, and walk along Abbot Kinney. One night we’d definitely hit a Cinespia screening at Hollywood Forever Cemetery-the atmosphere there is unreal. And for food, I’d take them to Republique-it’s one of my favorite spots in LA, both for the vibe and the food. That mix of beach, culture, and cinematic energy is what makes LA so special to me.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Absolutely. I owe a lot to the people who supported me behind the scenes-my wife, my family, and a few key collaborators who believed in me before I had any big-name clients. I’d especially like to shout out BTO Production, Lumina Production, and Rent for Event-they gave me real trust early on and brought me into large-scale shows where I could grow and prove myself as a Lighting Designer. Also, the team at Cinespia-they trusted me with their iconic screenings at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, and I’m proud to have been working with them for several years now. It’s those people-who see your potential and let you run with it-that make all the difference.

Image Credits
Photo by my team