Tag: nebula

Leo Villareal at Pace Gallery

Can you capture the feeling of a sunset and make it last?  New media artist Leo Villareal has explained that his latest ‘digital sculptures’ – LED lights and electronics behind acrylic panels – at Chelsea’s Pace Gallery, have a similar effect to watching natural phenomena.  Titled ‘Interstellar’ and inspired by images from space, including photos from the James Webb Telescope, the new wall-mounted works manifest in a range of palettes, from calming blue/greens to blazing yellow/orange tones.  Powered by custom coding, the imagery constantly morphs, enticing viewers to linger.  (On view through April 29th).

Leo Villareal, installation view of ‘Interstellar’ at Pace Gallery, April 2023.

Ivan Navarro at Templon Gallery

It’s easy to name a few stars, at least of the human variety.  But start thinking beyond our solar system and it gets tougher to come up with household names for more distant celestial bodies.  The stars – Almaz, Menkalinen, Hoedus I and others noted on this lightbox by Ivan Navarro at Templon Gallery’s recently opened New York space – are officially named by a working group of the International Astronomical Union in Paris.  Navarro, known for neon sculptures that comment on political power and social issues questions who has the right to mark territory with names or by other means.  Swirls of painted color evoke distant nebula along with the stars, emphasizing the unknown nature of distant phenomenon.  (On view in Chelsea through Dec 23rd).

Ivan Navarro, Nebula X (Auriga), LED, aluminum, wooden box, paint, regular mirror, one way mirror, and electric energy, 2022.