exhibition archive

Illumination

Illuminated oils from internationally recognized lighting designer Jason Boyd

NEW YORK CITY – Jason Boyd has always seen the world in terms of the way it is lit. He has used his prodigious skills to craft evocative scenes of light on stage, surrounding famous musicians, world renowned theater projects and acclaimed dance troupes for more than two decades. He has lit stadiums, ancient amphitheaters and some of the greatest theaters in the world.

Then he turned to painting.

“I’ve always had a deep connection to the medium of light both practically and spiritually,” he said. “The nature of light is that of an invisible dimension. My work reflects the various aspects of that concept and how it exists in both the visible and invisible world. My paintings often have the feeling of unknown nebulas, abstracted seas or heavenly realms.”

Jason began exploring the concept of illuminated oil paintings in the spring of 2008 after moving to the scenic mountains of upstate New York. Inspired by the surrounding nature, dramatic skies and images of light reflecting on water – or through space – he began to make studies in his studio and to try various sources as backlight.

Each piece stands on its own as a painting without its lighting component, but with the lights throughout the day as the sun begins to go down, the paintings transform, slowly revealing their inner glow. At night the illuminated paintings take on a completely different look and energy.

“What I am looking for is an entirely holistic effect,” said Boyd. “These canvasses are not about relaying a specific meaning or intent. This is about evoking a feeling and mood, in helping the viewer to transcend the rigidness of direct representation.”