Light and Space Art Movement Guide: 3 Light and Space Artists

The Light and Space movement was an art movement that originated in Southern California in the early 1960s. American abstract painter John McLaughlin heavily influenced the movement and was also at the forefront of minimalism and hard-edge painting at the time. Artists within the Light and Space movement created immersive visual experiences for viewers through the use of shadows, space, and lighting techniques.

Although the movement only lasted for roughly 20 years, it still influences artists today.

• Early 1960s: The Light and Space movement emerged around themes related to op art (optical art), minimalism, and geometric abstraction. John McLaughlin and his minimalist paintings also inspired artists early in the movement.
• Late 1960s: For much of the late 1960s, artists associated with the Light and Space movement concerned themselves with experimenting and pushing boundaries in the art world. For example, in 1967, Robert Irwin and James Turrell created a sensory deprivation exhibit at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Not long after that, Eric Orr created an environment using light, blood, and fire to produce a visceral response in viewers of the work.
• Early 1970s: In 1971, the University of California, Los Angeles hosted an exhibit entitled Transparency, Reflection, Light, Space: Four Artists. The four artists whose work was included were Peter Alexander, Larry Bell, Robert Irwin, and Craig Kauffman. This exhibit linked Light and Space art to kinetic art and cemented “Light and Space” as the name of the movement.
• Late 1970s to today: The Light and Space movement influenced the work of contemporary painters like Casper Brindle and sculptors like Olafur Eliasson. In 2011, the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego held a significant exhibit of the Light and Space movement entitled, Phenomenal: California Light, Space, Surface.

True to its name, the Light and Space art movement relied on light and space in addition to industrial materials and geometric shapes to affect viewers’ perceptions.

1. 1. Unconventional materials: Many artists in the movement used glass and plastic as part of their work. As new technologies emerged, artists incorporated polyester resins and acrylic substances as well.
2. 2. Light: As the name suggests, light played a major role in the Light and Space art movement. Light and Space artists used light to display images on surfaces, affect surroundings, and evoke emotion. Just as artists of the movement moved toward resins and acrylic when they became available, they also worked with neon, argon, and fluorescent lights, along with natural light.
3. 3. Space: Space was an essential part of the Light and Space art movement. Space allowed the viewer to become part of the artwork and have a unique, personal experience.
4. 4. Multi-dimensionality: Light and Space art often filled space in all directions, fostering viewers’ experience of the art as all-encompassing.

The works of several artists exemplify the Light and Space movement.

1. 1. Untitled by Robert Irwin (1966-1967): Irwin’s Untitled takes over an entire wall and includes a concave aluminum disc that is five feet across and extends 20 inches from the wall. The disc is lit up by various light sources to create just enough space and shadow so the disc appears to be floating. Irwin does not allow anyone to photograph this piece or any of his work.
2. 2. The Absolutely Naked Fragrance by John McCracken (1967): Barnett Newman’s color field artwork inspired McCracken’s The Absolutely Naked Fragrance. To make the piece, he treated a piece of plywood with resin and fiberglass to give it a glossy sheen.
3. 3. Untitled by Helen Pashgian (1969): The translucent sphere that’s the center of this piece is only seven inches in diameter. It is highly polished, allowing the viewer to experience it in more than one way depending on how it is illuminated.

Many other artists contributed to the Light and Space movement, including James Turrell, Laddie John Dill, Craig Kauffman, Ron Cooper, Mary Corse, Maria Nordman, DeWain Valentine, Bruce Nauman, and Doug Wheeler.

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