June 27, 2025
Axis Lighting Expands Footprint With Picasso Acquisition
Pictured above: Linear pendant fixture by Picasso Lighting Photo Credit: Picasso Lighting
Quebec manufacturer gains New Jersey operation and US production advantage
Axis Lighting, the Quebec-based architectural lighting manufacturer, is adding a new pin to its North American map with the acquisition of Picasso Lighting Industries — an established architectural lighting brand with a diverse interior product portfolio. The Moonachie, New Jersey (Exit 153) operation includes a team of 13. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.
Founded in 2007 by Boris Bregman and Mitchell Bloomberg, Picasso Lighting initially carved out a niche by designing architectural lighting fixtures that were tough enough for the demands of New York City building codes. What started with 2x2 and 2x4 recessed architectural fixtures made from 20-gauge steel has grown into a more expansive portfolio of interior architectural lighting. Today, the line includes recessed, surface, pendant, wall, cove, task, acoustic and decorative products. It even extends to framed exit signs with the 8-inch lettering New York’s emergency lighting code demands.
A Local Advantage in a Shifting Tariff Climate
Axis Lighting’s move is more than an expansion of its product mix — it’s also a hedge against future supply chain and tariff unpredictability. While the tariff volatility that marked the early months of President Trump’s second term has settled, the geopolitical climate remains uncertain enough for Axis to see value in boosting its American production footprint. U.S.-based manufacturing can help the company navigate Buy American requirements and public project specs that increasingly favor domestic sourcing.
There’s not much overlap in the companies’ agent rosters, but Inside Lighting did spot a few familiar names — Mlazgar Associates in Minnesota, Lighting Dynamics in Southern Florida, and Stevens Sales in Utah — working with both brands. In Metro New York City, both brands are represented by International Lights.
A Quiet Name, A Strategic Play
Picasso Lighting isn’t a major household name in the industry, but its work in the New York City market and its code-driven product know-how bring useful niche value to Axis’s broader architectural offering. Mitchell Bloomberg, who co-founded Picasso and is known in New York circles for his long tenure as president of The Lighting Group (NYC’s Lightolier agency many moons ago) and as co-owner of International Lights, gives the acquisition some local credibility in the highly networked NYC specifier market.
For Axis, this move plants a flag south of the border — one that could grow more relevant if future trade tensions reignite. For Picasso’s tight-knit New Jersey team, the new ownership opens the door to wider distribution without abandoning the city that shaped its identity.
