Sean Riley is a rigger, designer, presenter, and a recognized expert in the field of suspended lifting. Through his company Gravity Design he designs unique kinetic rigging solutions and solves complex engineering problems for a diverse array of clients and industries across the world. Riley also consults industry and instructs on fall protection and safety. Flagship projects include ongoing design of one of a kind circus systems for Cirque Mechanics and the construction of the 10,000 year clock of the Long Now Foundation.
Riley makes documentary television, teaching and explaining science and technology. As host of one of National Geographic Television most successful series “Worlds Toughest Fixes”, Riley travelled around the world for 4 seasons going inside some of the most daunting and dangerous repair jobs imaginable, showcasing his own experience as well at the brave teams he imbedded with, while teaching engineering along the way. Riley has also lent his voice to national geographic nature shows, the construction series “Break it Down”, and appeared on late night with Jimmy Fallon.
Riley’s latest televisions project “Speed” on Curiosity Stream is a 4 part series chronicling the development of transportation technology throughout history and the human obsession with speed.
As and artist and scenic designer Riley has produced over 150 original designs for performance Riley’s designs for both performance and gallery often combine suspension, kinetic movement, and narrative sculpture and commonly explore the relationship of physics, architecture, and their influence on human perception. Riley’s scenic designs for live performance have toured nationally and internationally from Broadway to Istanbul. Riley’s unique work sometimes crosses lines into gallery installations including 862M in San Francisco, Document 11 and the MMK in Germany. Riley’s scenic designs have won many awards and Riley has been honored with an Isadora Duncan Award for sustained achievement.
Riley makes documentary television, teaching and explaining science and technology. As host of one of National Geographic Television most successful series “Worlds Toughest Fixes”, Riley travelled around the world for 4 seasons going inside some of the most daunting and dangerous repair jobs imaginable, showcasing his own experience as well at the brave teams he imbedded with, while teaching engineering along the way. Riley has also lent his voice to national geographic nature shows, the construction series “Break it Down”, and appeared on late night with Jimmy Fallon.
Riley’s latest televisions project “Speed” on Curiosity Stream is a 4 part series chronicling the development of transportation technology throughout history and the human obsession with speed.
As and artist and scenic designer Riley has produced over 150 original designs for performance Riley’s designs for both performance and gallery often combine suspension, kinetic movement, and narrative sculpture and commonly explore the relationship of physics, architecture, and their influence on human perception. Riley’s scenic designs for live performance have toured nationally and internationally from Broadway to Istanbul. Riley’s unique work sometimes crosses lines into gallery installations including 862M in San Francisco, Document 11 and the MMK in Germany. Riley’s scenic designs have won many awards and Riley has been honored with an Isadora Duncan Award for sustained achievement.
