Statement

I create imaginary worlds with the media of light and paint. We live in a time that is fraught with risks to our planet and our species, and when technology can either save us or destroy us, I offer a sense of wonder.

 In my works with light I refer to humanity’s long history by merging the aesthetics of different eras of art and architecture with contemporary technology. I combine light with rich color to build enveloping experiences, using light-emitting diodes, reflective materials, and transparent surfaces. Some of the works exist as public art, others as wall pieces and sculptures, ancillary to classical, Constructivist, Islamic, and other forms of architecture. In ambient light the works convey a sense of playfulness and delight. In darker environments they become different, glowing objects reminiscent of ancient Byzantine mosaics, medieval stained-glass cathedral windows, and other timeless elements. The forms a viewer sees directly are as important as the light emanating from them.

 Light is energy: it moves and stays still at the same time. I fill my abstract paintings with light by capturing the energy of my gestures, using layers to form animated objects that oscillate and evoke other worldly intensity.

 Through their vibrance all my works become spaces for that spark of humanity we all share.

-Carol Salmanson, 2025