Aesthetics Inc.

10/15/2026

Have you ever walked into a room and instantly felt calmer? Or more drained? That’s not your imagination. 🌿

Neuroarchitecture is the science of how spaces affect our brains, our moods and our health. In our latest blog post, Naj Wikoff shares how hospitals can use natural light, art and intentional design to help patients, families and staff feel better.

What’s a space that always lifts your spirits? Tell us in the comments! 👇

Read more: https://bit.ly/4hZxKuy

There’s no such thing as a neutral space. Neuroarchitecture studies how buildings affect our emotional and physical health, and it shows that natural light, art and intentional design can help people heal. Learn how healthcare design that draws on this research creates healing environments for pat...

09/23/2026

Less than one week until Annette Ridenour takes the stage at the 2026 CODAsummit in Santa Fe!

Annette will be presenting "The Difference Between Public Art & Healing Art: A Comparative Framework for Purpose, Ethics, Placement, and Evaluation," a session that gets to the heart of how we think about art, place, and human experience at Aesthetics, Inc.

If you or your team will be at CODA Summit this year, we would love to connect. Reach out and let's find time to talk in person.

📍 Santa Fe, NM | 🗓️ September 29 – October 1, 2026
🔗 bit.ly/4d5U83u

09/14/2026

The Fall 2026 issue of San Diego Health magazine features a wonderful story about art and healing at Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas, and we love seeing this work celebrated!

From Ken Goldman's stunning four-story botanical mural to every thoughtfully placed piece throughout the new Lusardi Tower, this project is a beautiful reminder of what art can do for patients, families, and the dedicated staff who care for them.

Read the full story here: https://bit.ly/4h1iSem

09/09/2026

What should be standardized in a healthcare art program, and what should never be?

After more than 40 years working exclusively in healthcare, we believe the answer is simple: standardize the process, customize the purpose.

The systems behind a great art program, including planning, procurement, safety, and long-term stewardship, should be consistent. But the identity of a place must always be its own. Every hospital serves a unique community, and the art on its walls should reflect that.

Our philosophy, The Art of Place, draws on local artists, regional landscapes, and community stories to create environments that feel authentic and healing. Paired with evidence-based design and NeuroArts research, the result is an art program that is both scientifically informed and deeply connected to the people it serves.

We're proud to share our perspective in the latest NOAH Blog. We'd love to hear your thoughts!

Read the full article: https://bit.ly/4csjl86

As healthcare systems continue to grow in size and complexity, standardization has become essential. Standards improve safety, efficiency, consistency, and long-term stewardship across multiple campuses. Yet one important question remains: What should be standardized, and what should remain unique?....

09/07/2026

We are thrilled to share that Aesthetics, Inc. has been named a 2026 CODAawards Merit Winner in the Mural category for "Iconic Blooms of San Diego County " by artist Ken Goldman at Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas, California!

The CODAawards celebrate the very best in commissioned art integrated into public, architectural, and interior spaces. Being recognized alongside this year's incredibly talented group of winners is a true honor. Congratulations to all of the 2026 winners!

This project is a love letter to the natural beauty of San Diego County, and we are so grateful to the community that inspired it.

Explore all 2026 winning projects here: https://bit.ly/4zXgduY

08/31/2026

Big news from Aesthetics, Inc.! 🎉

Our President & CEO, Annette Ridenour, has been named a 2026 CODAsummit Speaker and we couldn't be more proud.

Annette will be presenting "The Difference Between Public Art & Healing Art," exploring the ethics, purpose, and evaluation of art across public spaces and healthcare environments. It's exactly the kind of thoughtful, expert-level conversation that CODAsummit was made for.

📍 Santa Fe, NM | 🗓️ September 29 – October 1, 2026 | 🔗 https://bit.ly/4d5U83u

Will you be there? We'd love to connect!

08/05/2026

ICYMI: Our founder Annette Ridenour joined Mark LePage on the EntreArchitect Podcast, and the conversation is one you'll want to hear.

Art in healthcare isn't decoration. It's care. And after 40+ years of proving it, Annette has a lot to say about what intentional design actually does for patients, caregivers, and the spaces they share every day.

Mark wrote a wonderful summary of their discussion. Start there, then catch the full episode.

🔗

Designing healthcare environments teaches a truth every architect needs: art is not decoration. It shapes how people feel, recover, and heal.

07/29/2026

Aesthetics founder Annette Ridenour recently joined Mark LePage on the EntreArchitect Podcast for a conversation about designing healthcare environments that truly heal.

Annette talks about the moment that shaped her career, sitting with her mother in a clinical room that offered nothing for a frightened person to hold onto, and how that experience became the foundation of a practice built on intention, evidence, and whole-person design.

She covers why art in healthcare must be curated with purpose, the science of biophilia and belonging, and why the spaces where patients and staff are most vulnerable deserve our deepest design attention.

🎧 Catch the full episode: https://bit.ly/3RE8jp8

How can art, architecture, and evidence-based design help people heal? Annette Ridenour shares how intentional collaboration creates healthcare environments that reduce stress, strengthen community, and improve the human experience.

07/16/2026

We made the Top 100! 🎉

Our "Iconic Blooms of San Diego" mural with artist Ken Goldman at Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas has been selected for the 2026 CODAawards People's Choice — and we need your vote!

Voting is easy!

1. Follow the link provided below to the voting page.
2. Log in to your CODAworx account. If you don’t have an account, creating one is quick and easy.
3. Scroll or search the projects for “Iconic Blooms of San Diego.”
4. Click the heart 💜 icon, and you’re done!

🔗 to voting: https://bit.ly/4aXbnDd

Thank you for your support!

07/14/2026

We are proud to celebrate our very own Naj Wikoff, who was honored with the prestigious Pillar of the Arts Award at AFTACON 2026, the national conference of Americans for the Arts.

This recognition celebrates five decades of Naj's tireless work building the social and civic infrastructure that allows arts and culture to flourish across the United States. As Randy Cohen, Vice President for Research at Americans for the Arts, shared: "His generosity and creativity have inspired colleagues and friends literally across generations."

We are honored to be part of a community with changemakers like Naj. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition!