Light has always fascinated scientists, eager to uncover its physical nature. Artists, too, have been captivated by this phenomenon, as light becomes a key element in their work, shaping visual perception, influencing emotions, and defining spatial relationships. One such visionary artist is Helen Pashgian. This American sculptor is a pioneer and a leading figure in the 1960s “Light and Space” movement. She lives and works in Pasadena, California. Her art features a series of sculptures with vibrantly colored columns, discs, and spheres, each boasting intriguing elements worth exploring. Discover more about the talented Helen Pashgian at losangeles1.one.
Early Life
Helen Pashgian was born in Pasadena, California, in 1934. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Pomona College, a private liberal arts college, in 1956. She then continued her studies at Columbia University from 1956 to 1957, and in 1958, Helen received her master’s degree from Boston University.
Her academic journey continued with doctoral studies at Harvard University. Helen Pashgian was initially preparing for a career in academia or museum work. During this time, she was already teaching applied arts at a local high school, which eventually led her pivot towards art.
Helen Pashgian trained as an art historian, specializing in the 17th-century Dutch Golden Age.
A Sculptor’s Journey
Helen Pashgian creates sculptures using industrial materials such as resin, fiberglass, plastic, and coated glass. Her work is distinguished by several key characteristics:
- A focus on cast resin, allowing her to craft large-scale, translucent objects that blend vibrant colors with refined surfaces.
- The fascinating way in which the perception of her sculptures shifts with the viewer’s movement. They can appear solid from one angle, yet dissolve into space from another.
- Throughout her career, a consistent use of brightly colored columns, discs, and spheres, often featuring an isolated element that seems suspended, embedded, or encased within.
- Her innovative methods for working with industrial epoxy resins and plastics.
- The creation of a sense of constant motion as one moves around her sculptures.
Pashgian holds a deep respect for Johannes Vermeer, whom she refers to as the “artist of light.” This admiration became a foundational element in her exploration of light’s impact and perception. While she gravitated toward experimenting with unconventional materials, her primary goal was always to preserve light as both the subject and essence of her art. For Pashgian, light became both expression and message.
Some of her earliest sculptures date back to the 1960s, primarily consisting of spheres made from polyester resin.
The “Light and Space” Movement
This artistic movement, closely linked to Optical Art, Minimalism, and Geometric Abstraction, emerged in Southern California in the 1960s, influenced by John McLaughlin. In the 1960s and 1970s, Helen Pashgian, alongside artist Mary Corse, became a prominent female participant in the California “Light and Space” movement. Other notable figures include James Turrell and Robert Irwin.
Artists within the “Light and Space” movement departed from traditional forms of painting and sculpture, focusing instead on the very act of perception. The movement is characterized by specific features:
- Perceptual phenomena (light, volume, scale) are central to the artists’ works.
- Artists utilize a variety of materials that interact with light: glass for transparency and reflection; neon and fluorescent lamps as sources of artificial light; and resin and cast acrylic for their transparency and ability to diffuse or transmit light.
- Artists work in multiple ways: they direct flows of natural light, integrate artificial light sources into installations, and manipulate light through their chosen materials.
- The core idea of the “Light and Space” movement is the viewer’s perception of light and other sensory phenomena under specific conditions. Artists in this movement aim to alter conventional perceptions of reality, showing how light influences everything we see and feel.
Solo Exhibitions
- A significant solo exhibition, “Helen Pashgian: Work in Light,” took place in 2010 at the Benton Museum of Art at Pomona College in Claremont, California. This exhibition featured “Untitled 2007-09,” comprising green columnar structures made of acrylic. These works showcased the sculptor’s deep interest in the interplay of light, color, and material, creating visual effects that shifted with viewing angle and illumination.
- Soon after, Helen Pashgian began receiving invitations for additional solo exhibitions. On March 30, 2014, LACMA hosted her next solo show, “Helen Pashgian: Light Invisible.” This installation featured 12 acrylic columns arranged in pairs within a darkened room. In “Untitled 2012-13,” the columns themselves were the sole light sources, connected in pairs and spaced three meters apart. The exhibition transforms from every angle as the viewer moves from one pair to the next.
- On November 4, 2021, the “Spheres and Lenses” solo exhibition opened at Lehmann Maupin in New York. This included “Untitled 2021,” a 45-inch diameter lens sculpture crafted from cast epoxy resin. This exhibition continued the sculptor’s exploration of transparency, reflection, and depth.
- On November 19, 2021, the sculptor was invited to present another solo exhibition, “Helen Pashgian: Presences,” at SITE Santa Fe, New Mexico. The show began with spheres the sculptor created in the 1960s. The central element of the exhibition was an installation previously featured at the 2014 LACMA exhibition. In the main display, visitors could immerse themselves in an installation that included lighting and a room. A disc was illuminated, projecting an image onto the visitor. This provided a unique and engaging experience of full immersion, allowing viewers not just to observe the art, but to personally feel its impact on their own perception.
Examining these solo exhibitions of Helen Pashgian’s work makes it clear how her artistry has evolved, consistently exploring the interplay of light, space, and the viewer. The sculptor has masterfully used innovative materials to create meditative and visually captivating works.
An Outstanding Woman in Art
Since the 1960s, Helen Pashgian has regularly exhibited her work in both solo and group shows. Despite this, she didn’t achieve the same level of recognition as her male counterparts. Many publications have noted that the sculptor’s role has been insufficiently acknowledged.
In 2013, she received the “Distinguished Woman in Art” award from the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles.
Another significant achievement is Helen’s inclusion on Mary Beth Edelson’s iconic 1972 poster, “Some Living American Women Artists.” This work is a crucial part of the feminist art movement. It stands as a powerful statement about women’s place in the art world, symbolizing the fight for recognition of women in art and highlighting their role in history.
