Coming of age in California between 1990's Silicon Valley naive optimism and the rebellious DIY punk spirit of underground Berkeley and Oakland, Dexter Red grew up immersed in a culture of possibility. These formative environments sparked his belief that thoughtful, passionate work can inspire change and improve the world.
Already involved in public exhibitions in his childhood, his life-long razor sharp focus on sculpting spaces began in the local theater and at the victorian-era museum farm his parents worked at. By 16 he was working at the renowned interactive Exploratorium museum in San Francisco. There, he apprenticed 6 years under Master Exhibit Developer Tom Tompkins, who mentored him closely in deeply considered interactive and visitor design/build philosophies within exhibitions and museum education.
While earning his undergraduate degree at UC Berkeley, he led the scenographic direction of the new Tactile Dome for the relocation of the Exploratorium to a newly build campus. A true workaholic, in this era he also staged dozens of independent art and music shows in the then vibrant and experimental East Bay art scene.
After graduating with his Bachelors Dexter continued his craft at various Los Angeles museums, including the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, The La Brea Tar Pits Museum and the Eames House.
He completed a master’s in Scenographic Design and Communication at FH Dortmund in Germany in 2022.
While still an MA student, he was selected to lead the design the Festivalzentrum of the Ruhrtriennale Internationale Festival der Künste, which enabled him the possibility to create visions on huge scale, and his designs for the "Pappelwald Kantine" solidified his reputation as an innovator in sustainable scenography. This led to work for clients such as ÖBB/Rail Cargo Group, for which his Messestand concept "Freight Forest" won the project an Honorable Mention from Exhibitor and the coveted 2025 German Design Award.
In recent years, Dexter's temporary spatial installations—often immersive "light rooms"—have become iconic fixtures in Berlin's underground nightlife, gracing stages like PRNCPTL, Lecken, and Whole Festival. Known for blending artistic expression with practical design experimentation, Dexter seeks to create spaces that communicate bold visions that create a sense of cohesion among the audience for which it is built.
Having realized such a steady parade of ever changing concepts has also afforded him great insight into how to make scenography simple and more sustainable without ever sacrificing impact — making him a sought-after collaborator for both artistic and corporate projects.
Completed scenographic projects & exhibitions:
XXX
PRN by PRNCPTL •Münze •December 2024
PRN by PRNCPTL •Münze •December 2024
Concept, Stage Design, Project Lead, Lighting, Install
Lecken Play Pit
Lecken • Kreuzwerk, Berlin •November 2024
Lecken • Kreuzwerk, Berlin •November 2024
Concept, Stage Design, Project Lead, Lighting, Install
Flink Tank Exhibition
New Fears Gallery, Berlin • November 2024
New Fears Gallery, Berlin • November 2024
Concept, Stage Design, Project Lead, Lighting, Install
XX
PRN by PRNCPTL • October 2024
PRN by PRNCPTL • October 2024
Concept, Stage Design, Project Lead, Lighting, Install
X
PRN by PRNCPTL •August 2024
PRN by PRNCPTL •August 2024
Concept, Stage Design, Project Lead, Lighting, Install
“Hell (w)Hole”
Whole United Festival •August 2024
Whole United Festival •August 2024
Concept, Stage Design, Project Lead, Lighting, Install
“Back Room”
Gegen x PRNCPTL • Else • July 2024
Gegen x PRNCPTL • Else • July 2024
Concept, Stage Design, Project Lead, Lighting, Install
“2 Rooms: One Red, One Blue ”
PRN by PRNCPTL • 2024
PRN by PRNCPTL • 2024
Concept, Stage Design, Project Lead, Lighting, Install
“Softening”
RSO • 2024
RSO • 2024
Concept, Stage Design, Project Lead, Lighting, Install
“Body Mantra”
PRN by PRNCPTL • 2023
PRN by PRNCPTL • 2023
Concept, Stage Design, Project Lead, Lighting, Install
“Maze with Permeable Boundaries”
PRN by PRNCPTL • 2023
PRN by PRNCPTL • 2023
Concept, Stage Design, Project Lead, Lighting, Install
“Chillout Cove”
Whole United Festival • 2023
Whole United Festival • 2023
Concept, Stage Design, Project Lead, Furniture Design, Lighting, Install, Team Management
“Lightroom”
PRNCPTL 10 Year Anniversary • 2023
PRNCPTL 10 Year Anniversary • 2023
Concept, Stage Design, Project Lead, Lighting, Install
“Freight Forest” Messebau für Rail Cargo Group/ÖBB
Transport Logistic Messe • 2023
Transport Logistic Messe • 2023
Concept, Set Designer
“Collaborative_Cruising_Concept”
Pornceptual x Namilia • 2023
Pornceptual x Namilia • 2023
Concept, Stage Design, Project Lead, Lighting, Install
“Pappelwald Kantine” Festival Center
Ruhrtriennale Festival der Künste • 2021, 2022, 2023
Ruhrtriennale Festival der Künste • 2021, 2022, 2023
Artist, Creative Lead, Exhibition Design, Lighting, Event Concept, Furniture Design, Costume Design
“Der Mann, der eine Blume Sein Wollte”
Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus • 2021
Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus • 2021
Assistant Stager Designer
“Die Bittere Tränen der Petra von Kant”
Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus • 2020
Düsseldorfer Schauspielhaus • 2020
Assistant Stager Designer
“Evolution Chemnitz” by Henrike Naumann
Museum Gunzenhauser • 2020
Museum Gunzenhauser • 2020
Assistant Scenographer
“DASALAND”
DASA Szenografie Kolloquium • 2020
DASA Szenografie Kolloquium • 2020
Creative-, project- and team leadership, Installation, In collaboration with fellow students of a masters course
“The Cave You Fear to Enter” The Exploratorium • 2017
Guest Artist of an immersive multimedia experience
"Spa Day”
Headcleaner Music Video • 2016
Art Direction, Concept, Photography, Editing, in collaboration with Kiernan Cobarubia
Renovation of Permanent Exhibition
La Brea Tar Pits Museum • 2015
La Brea Tar Pits Museum • 2015
Lighting Design/Tech
“Mummies: New Secrets from the Tombs”
Natural History Museum of L.A. County • 2015
Natural History Museum of L.A. County • 2015
Lighting Design/Tech
“Age of Mammals”
Natural History Museum of L.A. County • 2015
Exhibit Designer: “You’re a Mammal Too!”
“Nature Gardens”
Natural History Museum of L.A. County • 2015
Natural History Museum of L.A. County • 2015
Exhibit Designer: “Insect House”
“Grandeos Maestros”
Natural History Museum of L.A. County • 2014
Natural History Museum of L.A. County • 2014
Furniture Manufacture, Artifact Handling, Bild- up/down.
“The New Tactile Dome”
The Exploratorium • 2013
Creative Director, Concept Development, Project Management, Installation
“Porehole”
The Exploratorium • 2008
Artist for “Liminality: Art on the Edge” Temporary Exhibition
“Mind” Permanent Exhibition
The Exploratorium • 2007
The Exploratorium • 2007
Technician, Furniture Design
“Free Diamonds for Everyone" Ausstellung/Musikfest
The White Horse • 2007
The White Horse • 2007
Curatorial, Conceptual and Organizational Leadership
“Listening” Permanent Exhibition
The Exploratorium • 2006
Technician, Furniture Manufacture, Installation
“Downhill Race”
The Exploratorium • 2006
The Exploratorium • 2006
Exhibit Designer, Manufacture in collaboration with Tom Tompkins
“Ball Launcher”
The Exploratorium • 2005
The Exploratorium • 2005
Exhibit Designer, Manufacture in collaboration with Tom Tompkins
“Electricity Demonstration Center”
The Exploratorium • 2005
The Exploratorium • 2005
Exhibit Designer, Manufacture in collaboration with Tom Tompkins and Phil Ramey
“Ghost Train”
Ardenwood Historic Farm • 1999-2001
Ardenwood Historic Farm • 1999-2001
Concept, Set-Design and Install