“Open Field” (2000) by James Turrell, image courtesy of jamesturrell.com
Once upon a time, fluorescent neon lighting meant little more than smokey after-hour bars and seedy strip clubs. Then, artists grabbed hold of the medium and began integrating it into their works, utilising it to explore space and to reveal their innermost thoughts. Now it’s near impossible to escape the trend of neon art, and even Drake gathered inspiration from James Turrell for his music video to 2015’s “Hotline Bling” – something which the artist has made a point to distance himself from however.
For those searching for more brightly-hued works, read below as we illuminate the artists creating neon masterpieces that truly glow.
Untitled by Dan Flavin, image courtesy of sohogrand.com
Dan Flavin
Perhaps the godfather of neon, Dan Flavin is the artist most associated with introducing fluorescent lighting into the contemporary context. His work can be seen alongside James Turrell’s at Villa Panza, a gorgeous 18th century estate in the small Italian town of Varese, as well as the Santa Maria Annunciata church in Milan.
“Threshold” (2009) from the 53rd Venice Biennale by Ivan Navarro, image courtesy of lightartblog.files_.wordpress.com
Iván Navarro
Incorporating repetition into many of his works, Ivan Navarro is a Brooklyn-based artist who represented his home country Chile in the 2009 Venice Biennale.
“Bridget’s Bardo (Ganzfeld)” 2006 by James Turrell, image courtesy of art-sheep.com
James Turrell
Walking into one of James Turrell‘s “Ganzfeld” installations is like entering a space-age dream. The artist, who has always been fascinated with light’s ability to transform a room, has most recently put these principles towards the northern Arizona-located Roden Crater.
“Contained Radiance Idaho” installation by Laddie John Dill, image courtesy of ochigallery.com
Laddie John Dill
Also a painter, Laddie John Dill is better-known for his geometric installations which refract light through panes of glass. Laid out across small dunes of sand, his works offer a futuristic ambiance that mesmerises visitors.
“The Global Contemporary” (2010) by Leila Pazooki, image courtesy of artspace.com
Leila Pazooki
For “The Global Contemporary” Tehran-born and Berlin-based Leila Pazooki offers commentary on the art world’s Euro-centric position. As stated on the artist’s website, “After all, it is a lot easier to measure art against the standards that have been established in western historiography than to consider such works against the backdrop of the specific cultural context in which they were created, an approach that might lead to entirely different views.”
“”Good Boy, Bad Boy” by Bruce Nauman, image courtesy of timeout.com
Bruce Nauman
With works that span multiple mediums, Bruce Nauman has built an artistic career as a sculptor, photographer, performer and neon artist. The creative’s work plays with language and communication, subjects which Nauman is fascinated by.
Left: “it’s summer but it’s cold outside” 2016, right: “build or destroy” 2011 by Patrick Martinez, images courtesy of patrickmartinez.com
Patrick Martinez
Patrick Martinez is a child of the hip hop era. His neon works borrow from the musical genre’s culture, with slang terminology and rap references transforming into clever social commentaries.
“The Strange New Music of the Crying Songs” 2012 by Robert Montgomery, image courtesy of robertmontgomery.org
Robert Montgomery
Robert Montgomery‘s website describes him as a “complete artist” who “engages completely with the urban world with a translucent poetry.” Equal parts verse and light installation, Montgomery creates touching works that appear Tumblr-ready from the start.
“PEOPLE LIKE YOU NEED TO FUCK PEOPLE LIKE ME” 2007 by Tracey Emin, image courtesy of traceyeminstudio.com
Tracey Emin
Also using neon to create confessional-style work is Tracey Emin. The light-up installations, which scrawl across the wall in her handwriting, are heartbreaking examples of Emin’s sincere approach towards art.
“NEON: The Charged Line” is at Grundy Art Gallery, Blackpool, until 7 January 2017