WBEZ recently profiled Navillus founder Dan Sullivan and artist Edra Soto, highlighting their creative partnership, individual accomplishments, and deep-rooted impact on Chicago’s cultural landscape. From major public art installations to high-profile collaborations, the article explores how their relationship, shared values, and tireless work ethic continue to shape the city’s art, design, and architectural fabric.
Below is a summary, but you can read the full article by Alison Cuddy on the WBEZ website here.
“Chicago’s busiest art couple is shaping the city one project at a time”
At Navillus Woodworks, we see every project as an opportunity to shape culture, build community, and push the boundaries of craft. That mission is embodied in our founder, Dan Sullivan, whose creative and professional life is deeply entwined with Chicago’s vibrant art scene — and with his longtime partner, acclaimed artist Edra Soto.
Together, Dan and Edra have become a driving force in the city’s cultural fabric. From Millennium Park and the Salt Shed to the National Public Housing Museum and even the set of The Bear, their fingerprints are everywhere — often through joint works that blend Edra’s conceptual vision and Dan’s fabrication expertise.
A Creative Partnership Forged in Art and Love
Dan met Edra over 20 years ago at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where she was starting her MFA and he was working in the registrar’s office. Their creative partnership formed quickly and has only deepened over decades of collaboration — starting with her thesis installation and growing into a portfolio of work that spans sculpture, architecture, music, and public art.
Today, they live in East Garfield Park, where they also run The Franklin, their backyard gallery space. Whether co-curating exhibitions or co-creating sculptural installations, Dan and Edra are constantly building — for each other, for artists, and for the public.
Navillus Woodworks: Art Meets Precision Fabrication
Navillus Woodworks began as a way for Dan to bring artists’ visions to life with expert craftsmanship and high-end execution. What started small has grown into a robust operation with a warehouse on Chicago’s West Side and a team of 15. The firm specializes in custom fabrication for museum exhibitions, public installations, commercial interiors, and private spaces — always with a dedication to material integrity and artistic intent.
Our portfolio includes collaborations with artists like Luftwerk, Marshall Brown, and Candida Alvarez, as well as major civic projects like Revival Food Hall and Soto’s landmark Graft series. Graft, which explores the decorative ironwork of Puerto Rican homes, is now part of the Whitney Museum’s permanent collection.
Whether building a three-dimensional pavilion for Millennium Park, working under tight deadlines for ambitious installations, or crafting precise details for commercial clients, Navillus ensures every piece is safe, on-time, and true to the artist’s vision.
A Life in Sync: Balancing Art, Business, and Family
Dan’s life has always been a balancing act — from touring as a musician with bands like Arriver and NadNavillus, to handcrafting guitars and furniture, to leading a fabrication team and supporting Edra’s rising national profile. While Edra shows work at EXPO Chicago and prepares for exhibitions in New York, Cleveland, Toronto, and Florida, Dan continues to lead the build side — helping translate abstract ideas into functional, durable structures.
Their connection is more than creative — it’s also deeply personal. They’ve navigated life’s milestones together, from a spontaneous engagement across international waters to family shifts and personal loss. Through it all, their shared purpose has remained constant: to support one another and serve the greater creative community.
As Dan often says, “Our job is to reach a point where we compromise as little as possible, so that the vision stays intact.” That philosophy guides everything we do at Navillus.
Looking Ahead
With dozens of new projects underway — including public art at University of Illinois Chicago and new music from NadNavillus — Dan Sullivan and Navillus Woodworks remain at the center of Chicago’s cultural conversation.
We’re not just builders. We’re collaborators, problem-solvers, and partners to artists. And like the city we love, we’re always in motion.
