Artist Spotlight: Claudia Cerdas

Meet Claudia Cerdas, a Brooklyn-based technical artist whose journey into the world of virtual production began during the 2020 pandemic - a time when many people found themselves reinventing their careers and discovering their true passions.

While many people turned to yoga, balcony gardening, or adopting pets as forms of pandemic escapism, Claudia took a different path - creating digital art with 3D software, blending fantasy, architecture, and nature into dreamlandscapes.

As she says, she wanted to be immersed in these worlds so she decided to teach herself how to develop for virtual reality and eventually found her passion for virtual production and this led her to pursuing further education.

"I decided to exhibit my art work at a few art galleries which pushed me to pursue my Masters in Integrated Design and Media at NYU Tandon School of Engineering."

During her studies at NYU, Claudia secured a position as a Virtual Production Assistant at the university. This dual role as both student and assistant gave her quite a unique perspective on the state of virtual production education in higher educational institutions.

" I think current academic programs are designed to teach you the basics of virtual production, however, it's essential for them to integrate new technologies in their curriculum in order for students to thrive in this industry.

There is definitely a gap between what entry level jobs in virtual production are seeking and what academic programs teach you."

With that being said, she emphasizes the importance of self-directed learning:

"Students have to go out of their way to learn more about these tools which is why taking the Pixotope Online Training course was highly beneficial for me. A lot of academic institutions could benefit immensely from Pixotope, especially when it comes to broadcasting and mixed reality filmmaking."

The Moment Everything Changed

Like many in this field, Claudia's interest in virtual production was sparked by pure coincidence – though what a coincidence it was.

"When I first moved to New York, I had the opportunity to attend SUPERBIEN's projection mapping campaign for Moncler. They produced a monumental projection work mapped onto the historical Domino Sugar Factory in Brooklyn.

They reimagined the brand's iconic identity and heritage with the intricate architecture of the building. The astonishing visuals set against the New York city skyline was truly a moment that made me realize virtual production is not just a tool, it's a medium capable of crafting unforgettable experiences far beyond the CGI we are accustomed to in movies."

Staying Ahead of the Curve

In 2024, Claudia landed her role as a Technical Artist at Groovy VFX in Brooklyn,  visual effects company specializing in live production, and in September 2025 she started to work as Augmented Reality Operator at CBS Sports. Her curiosity doesn’t stop at the office - she continues to follow her own advice on self-education in free time.

"Given that AI is transforming the VFX industry, as an artist it's always vital to stay up to date. I've recently been working on creating cinematic short-films using Gen AI tools and integrating them into my own VFX pipeline and creative process."

When asked about a project she's particularly proud of, Claudia mentions an innovative installation where she combined technology with human experience.

"It was an interactive installation designed to help individuals reconnect with their senses. Using markerless motion capture and an ultrasonic directional speaker, participants were immersed in a meditative experience where their movements dynamically influenced a virtual environment, triggering spatial audio cues and deepening their sensory engagement."

A showcase from Claudia's portfolio

The Power of Real-Time Tools

Having recently completed her Pixotope training, Claudia is very enthusiastic about the creative possibilities these tools unlock for her.

"Pixotope brings cinematic-quality graphics that can elevate your projects and captivate audiences through immersive visual story-telling. Whether you want to do a motion capture performance or mixed reality broadcast, it covers a vast array of virtual production workflows that are seamlessly integrated with Unreal Engine.

I was amazed by how Pixotope's software facilitates everything from camera tracking to augmented reality and extended reality. What sets Pixotope apart is its ability to bring complex ideas to the screen more efficiently without the limitations of a traditional virtual production workflow."   

Breaking Through Stereotypes

What challenges has she encountered, and how does she personally push back against them?

Claudia has experienced a few challenges, but maintains a positive perspective.

"Sometimes your technical abilities can be underestimated compared to your colleagues. I'm a firm believer that your work speaks louder than any stereotype. Consistently giving your best effort, actively contributing your knowledge and collaborating with other creatives will pay off in the long run."

For those looking to follow in her footsteps, Claudia recommends a multi-faceted approach to learning. For example, she loves to listen to podcasts "The VFX Process" or "Starting Pixel", read news articles and attend networking events to stay updated on trends.

One of the game-changers in her career was a mentor.

"Having a mentor is a great way to learn more about the industry and grow your career. I'm very grateful for my mentors Todd Bryant (Director of Production at NYU) and Jiri Kilevnik (Creative Director at Runway) who have built my foundational skills in virtual production."  

If she could travel back in time, what would Claudia tell her younger self?

"Experiment and don't be afraid to make mistakes. A large part of virtual production is using your creativity to problem-solve in a fast-paced environment. The more you embrace trial and error early in your journey, the more capable you'll be to solve challenges in the future."

What advice would you give to someone interested in following a similar path—especially working with cutting-edge tools like Unreal Engine and virtual production pipelines?  

"My advice is to always have an endless curiosity to learn. Take advantage of courses such as the Pixotope Online Training or the Unreal Engine Fellowship. These programs strengthen your skills and develop the problem solving mindset you need for virtual production."