Welcome to KOLOSSOS!

KOLOSSOS is a New Orleans–based parade and public art collective creating large-scale, mobile sculpture experiences using upcycled materials and human-powered design. Rooted in Carnival traditions, KOLOSSOS transforms discarded objects into immersive public spectacles that feature art bikes, elaborate costuming, and interactive sculptural elements.

The mission of KOLOSSOS is to expand public access to art while advancing environmental and social awareness through creative reuse. By reimagining materials commonly considered waste — including debris generated by festivals, parades, and large public events — KOLOSSOS demonstrates sustainable artistic practices and encourages communities to reconsider their relationship to consumption, reuse, festival waste, and public space.

KOLOSSOS projects address multiple areas of cultural activism, including:

• Environmental sustainability, through material reuse, diversion of festival waste from landfills, and low-impact, human-powered design

• Public access to the arts, by presenting free, outdoor, participatory works in shared civic spaces

• Community cohesion and civic engagement, through collaborative making, procession, and collective celebration

• Creative empowerment, by modeling alternative, non-commercial approaches to large-scale art production

Projects are designed to be accessible, participatory, and adaptable. Each sculptural installation or procession can be customized to reflect local culture, site conditions, and community priorities, allowing KOLOSSOS to collaborate meaningfully with host organizations, artists, educators, and participants. Projects often take place in outdoor, free-to-the-public settings, ensuring broad community reach across age groups and socioeconomic backgrounds.

KOLOSSOS presents work year-round at parades, festivals, civic celebrations, and cultural events. The project has also been featured in the motion picture industry, major sporting events, and international television, demonstrating its capacity to operate at both grassroots and professional production levels.

KOLOSSOS is led by Katrina Brees, an artist and activist whose practice centers on large-scale sculpture, sustainable fabrication, and community-based public art. Her work intersects environmental advocacy, cultural preservation, and civic participation, using spectacle and procession as tools to reimagine how art can function in public life. Drawing inspiration from international traditions of ritual and participatory sculpture, Brees emphasizes collaboration, reuse, and creative resilience.

Through its work, KOLOSSOS contributes to the cultural vitality of public spaces, advances environmentally responsible art practices, and strengthens community connection through shared creative experience.