Luminaries of Light Pioneers of the California Light & Space Movement

The Honarkar Foundation for Arts & Culture proudly presents Luminaries of Light: Pioneers of the California Light and Space Movement, curated by Genevieve Williams. 

The California Light and Space movement, which emerged in the 1960s and 1970s, represents a singular convergence of art, science, and perception. Visionary artists within this movement sought to push the boundaries of traditional forms and mediums. By embracing unconventional materials such as glass, resin, and industrial plastics, they redefined light, volume, and color, treating these not as mere compositional elements but as essential materials that shaped their work.

In Luminaries of Light: Pioneers of the California Light and Space Movement, The Honarkar Foundation presents an exhibition featuring iconic works by the movement’s foremost figures: Peter Alexander, Larry Bell, Mary Corse, Laddie John Dill, Fred Eversley, Robert Irwin, Craig Kauffman, Helen Pashgian, James Turrell, De Wain Valentine, and Doug Wheeler. Collectively, these pioneers transcended conventional two-dimensionality and figuration, focusing instead on how light interacts with space and surface to evoke profound sensory experiences.

Through their innovative manipulation of light, space, and materials, each artist transforms the viewer’s perception, creating works that shift and evolve with their surroundings. Artists such as James Turrell, Robert Irwin, and Doug Wheeler used light as their medium, creating immersive environments where time and perception become fluid. Others, like Mary Corse and Helen Pashgian, crafted objects that seem to transform as viewers move, encouraging an active engagement with the work.

This exhibition offers visitors the opportunity to experience firsthand how these groundbreaking artists redefined minimalism and abstraction, not only as visual concepts but as immersive experiences. By encouraging heightened awareness of light, space, and time, Luminaries of Light pays tribute to the profound impact this movement has had on contemporary art while underscoring the enduring relevance of these works in today’s visual and experiential culture.