Axel Morgenthaler is recognized in Quebec as a innovative designer and visual artist, collaborating with internationaly known artists and groups such as Le Cique du Soleil, Alvin Ailey, LALALA Human Steps, Schauspielhaus Vienna, the Stockholm Opera, Gilles Maheu, Lorraine Pintal and Sol LeWitt, and presenting his own work in the form of permanent lighting artworks in the public space.
His work was awarded Le Grand Prix de la Créativité Montréal in 2008 for the mural lighting artwork for La Vitrine Culturelle, the IESNA International Illumination Design Award for the design of the lighting signature of Le Quartier des Spectacles in Montreal, a Bessie Award in New York for best set and lighting design for Luna from O Vertigo Danse in 2004. Axel Morgenthaler also accepted the Prix Lumière from the IES (International Engineering Society) in 2004 and an International Illuminating Design Award from the IESNA in 2005 for best architectural lighting in Quebec. The Gascon-Roux prize was awarded to him in 2004 for the lighting design of Tristan et Yseult at Théâtre du Nouveau Monde and the musical Don Juan got him a Félix nomination for his lighting design.
As a visual artist, Axel Morgenthaler is regularly comissioned to create lighting art works that can be seen in Montreal in the subway, at the Dorval Airport, at the W Hotel and at La Société des Arts Technologiques (SAT). He is member of the IESNA and LUCI.