Mads Christensen's dynamic light-based works explore how we as viewers respond to illumination and color through the neuro-receptors of the human visual analog system. Following in the footsteps of groundbreaking artists exploring this medium like James Turrell, Doug Wheeler, Dan Flavin, Ivan Navarro and Olafur Eliasson, Christensen is interested in the manner by which our brain translates the 

information gathered by the receptors in the human eye into specific colors, and consequently the emotional experience. 

 

Christensen finds the interplay between color and intensity of light in relation to the way we see light fascinating. For example, the human eye senses red and blue light differently. Red-sensitive cones are prominent near the center of the retina, yielding great detail in the perceived image. There are however, relatively few blue-sensitive cones which make it difficult to see detail with just blue light. However, when blue and red lights are combined as in What Are You Blinking About, unexpected and fascinating consequences of pattern and multiple colors appear because of the anatomy of the human eye.  

 

Trained as an electrical engineer, Christensen’s work is a fusion of his software designs and the intangible qualities of light as medium. While artists throughout history have been fascinated by depicting light, Christensen creates what appears as three-dimensional paintings with light. This platform is reminiscent of the flat and static shape of a painting but its animation and range of color creates a dialog with the space by illuminating the viewer and surrounding area with ambient light. The 

dramatic, stimulating and soothing qualities inherent in his work present an evolution of visual experience.

 

Christensen is being recognized by collectors and museum professionals as possessing vast and palpable creativity, technical expertise and visual sophistication to perpetuate this fascinating evolution of light as art.

 

Born in Denmark, 1971.

Lives and works in Los Angeles, CA.

 

Education

Electrical Engineering / Computer Science, Technical University of Denmark, 1990-1995

 

Exhibitions

2019 AI: Artistic Intelligence, High Line Nine, New York, NY

2019 Resurrector, Bombay Beach Biennale, Bombay Beach, CA

2017 Festival of Light in Jerusalem, Public Exhibition of International Artists, Jerusalem.

2017 Gated Public Display, Craft & Folk Art Museum, Los Angeles, CA

2017 DARC Awards Winner, London, UK

Spring 2016 Group Show, Timothy Yarger Fine Art, Beverly Hills, CA

“Cathedral of Mirrors”, solo exhibition, Lightwaves 2015, Salford Quays, United Kingdom

“We ♡ DTLA”, group show, November 2015, Nationbuilder.com, Los Angeles, CA

“Kinetic Show: LA”, group show, October 2015, Arena 1 Gallery, Santa Monica, CA 

“Mads Christensen: In Light Of”, solo show, December 2014-January 2015, Timothy Yarger Fine Art, Beverly Hills, CA

Fall 2014 Group Show, Timothy Yarger Fine Art, Beverly Hills, CA

“Informationary” juried by Herair & Lori Garboushian, October 2014, Gallery 825, Los Angeles, CA

“Come In! SMLXLa”, July-September 2014, Architecture & Design Museum, Los Angeles, CA

Burning Man 2014 (Art Honorarium), Black Rock City, NV

Summer 2014 Group Show, Timothy Yarger Fine Art, Beverly Hills, CA

“The New Baroque” juried by Martha Otero, April 2014, Gallery 825, Los Angeles, CA

Spring 2014 Group Show, Timothy Yarger Fine Art, Beverly Hills, CA

Luminale 2014, Frankfurt, Germany

Create:Fixate 2014, Los Angeles, CA

“Glow”, 2013, Santa Monica, CA

Create:Fixate 2013, Los Angeles, CA

Create:Fixate 2010, Los Angeles, CA

Venice Art Crawl, 2010, Los Angeles, CA

Burning Man 2009, Black Rock City

 

Art fairs

2019 Art Market San Francisco, San Francisco, CA

2019 Art Palm Springs, TYFA, Palm Springs, CA

2019 Palm Beach Modern + Contemporary, TYFA, Los Angeles, CA

2019 LA ART SHOW, Timothy Yarger Fine Art, Los Angeles, CA

2018 Art Miami, Timothy Yarger Fine Art, Miami, FL

2018 Texas Contemporay, Timothy Yarger Fine Art, Houston, TX

2018 ArtAspen, Timothy Yarger Fine Art, Aspen, CO

2018 Market Art + Design, Timothy Yarger Fine Art, Bridgehampton, NY

2018 Art Market San Francisco, Timothy Yarger Fine Art, San Francisco, CA

2018 Palm Springs Fine Art Fair, Timothy Yarger Fine Art, Palm Springs, CA

2018 LA Art Show, Timothy Yarger Fine Art, Los Angeles, CA

2017 ArtAspen, Timothy Yarger Fine Art, Aspen, CO

2017 Art Market San Francisco, Timothy Yarger Fine Art, San Francisco, CA

2017 Palm Springs Fine Art Fair, Timothy Yarger Fine Art, Palm Springs, CA

2017 LA Art Show, Timothy Yarger Fine Art, Los Angeles, CA

2016 Palm Springs Fine Art Fair, Timothy Yarger Fine Art, Palm Springs, CA

2016 LA Art Show, Timothy Yarger Fine Art, Los Angeles, CA

2015 ArtAspen, Timothy Yarger Fine Art, Aspen, CO

2015 Art Market San Francisco, Timothy Yarger Fine Art, San Francisco, CA

2015 Palm Springs Fine Art Fair, Timothy Yarger Fine Art, Palm Springs, CA

2015 LA Art Show, Special installation: ZOOM, collaboration with Steven Christensen, Los Angeles, CA

2015 LA Art Show, Timothy Yarger Fine Art, Los Angeles, CA

2014 Texas Contemporary, Timothy Yarger Fine Art, Houston, TX

2014 Art Market Hamptons, Timothy Yarger Fine Art, Bridgehampton, NY

2014 Art Market San Francisco, Timothy Yarger Fine Art, San Francisco, CA

2014 Silicon Valley Contemporary, Timothy Yarger Fine Art, San Jose, CA

 

Benefit auctions

Los Angeles Art Association Benefit Auction, 2014, Los Angeles, CA

 

Grants

Burning Man 2014 Art Honorarium

 

Lectures

SCI-Arc special lecture, 2016, Los Angeles, CA

Artist talk, Lightwaves 2015, Salford Quays, United Kingdom

"Light Work", SCI-Arc special lecture and panel, 2015, Los Angeles, CA

“Art & Technology”, UCLA supra studio by Studio Gehry Partners, 2014, Culver City, CA

“The challenges and rewards of displaying art in public”, PechaKucha Night 031, 2014, Frankfurt, Germany

 

Special Projects

Heart-shaped light engine for interactive art installation, 2015

Custom geodesic dome lighting system for Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, 2015 

Hardware and software development for Atelier Kiduck Kim interactive furniture designs, 2014-ongoing

Hardware and software development for Leo Villareal Studio, 2014-ongoing

Exterior lighting design and fabrication for Fergie’s “LA Love” video, 2014

Lighting design for kinetic light and space sculpture, Los Angeles, 2014

Stage production for Buzzfeed, 2014

Lighting design for Christina Sporrong’s “Tarantula”, Voodoo Festival, New Orleans, LA, 2014