Laura O'Reilly

Laura Ó Reilly (b. 1986, raised in NYC) is an interdisciplinary artist and social designer working between Brooklyn and Ireland. Her work has been exhibited internationally, and she is an alumna of the New Museum’s creative tech incubator, NEW INC. During her time at NEW INC, Laura developed and led Wallplay, an experiential arts and innovation network that transformed vacant retail spaces into hubs for public good. Wallplay grew into a multi-million-dollar enterprise with over 20 locations across NYC before permanently closing in 2020 due to the prolonged impact of the pandemic.

Laura recently launched L Ó R, her experiential art and social design studio based in Brooklyn. Before this, she served as a Principal at Buro Happold, a global engineering, design, and advisory firm. Her work has been featured in Forbes, The New York Times, New York Magazine’s The Cut, and Artnet, and she has appeared on national television. Laura holds a BA in New Media from SUNY Purchase, a certificate in Systems Thinking from MIT, and a certification in Blockchain Economics & Digital Assets from the Wharton Business School. Her unique expertise in innovation, community design, and leveraging creative spaces aligns seamlessly with ChaShaMa’s mission to transform unused real estate into opportunities for artists and communities.