PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 Leo Villareal’s Interstellar Exhibition Shines at the Figge

Davenport, Iowa (September 17, 2024) – The Figge Art Museum is excited to announce the opening of Interstellar, an exhibition by internationally renowned light sculptor Leo Villareal, opening Saturday, September 21. This highly anticipated exhibition will feature nine captivating works from Villareal’s Nebulae series, showcasing his innovative approach to light, space, and technology. 

Interstellar offers a mesmerizing exploration of celestial imagery, with each sculpture in the Nebulae series emitting diffused light that captures the dynamism of space through an intricate interplay of colors and shapes. No two pieces in the series are the same, with sequences generated through custom code, ensuring a one-of-a-kind experience for visitors.

In addition to the Nebulae series, the exhibition will include selections from Villareal’s NFT (non-fungible token) series, Cosmic Bloom. This digital series reflects the ordered randomness found in nature, starting with simple geometric forms that evolve into complex, dynamic layers. Cosmic Bloom highlights the intersection of art and technology, blending human control, engineering, and the element of chance to create works that are as thought-provoking as they are visually stunning. 

"Interstellar invites viewers to immerse themselves in an exhibition where art and technology converge. Villareal's work exemplifies the endless possibilities of light as a medium, and we're thrilled to bring this experience to the Figge," said Figge Co-Senior Curator Joshua Johnson.  

Villareal’s art is deeply rooted in abstraction, creating open-ended visual experiences through layered sequencing. Drawing on organic systems and atmospheric elements, his work produces unexpected behaviors without predetermined outcomes, inviting viewers to experience a unique fusion of natural beauty and technological innovation. 

Leo Villareal is acclaimed for his large-scale, site-specific light installations. His prominent works include The Bay Lights on San Francisco’s Bay Bridge, Illuminated River in London, which connects nine bridges through a single artwork, and Multiverse, a stunning volumetric installation linking the East and West buildings of the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C. Villareal's upcoming project, Evanescent Field, will illuminate all four sides of the museum’s exterior glass curtain wall, featuring over 3,000 feet of colorful, programmable LED fixtures in the fall of 2025, becoming the largest public artwork in Iowa. 

Interstellar is generously supported by premier sponsor Andy & Debi Butler; supporting sponsors The  Current Iowa and Hotel Black Hawk; contributing sponsors Kay K. Runge, KK Runge Associates, Wynne  and David Schafer, Schafer Interiors, Xenotronics Company; and media sponsor Quad Cities International Airport. The exhibition will be on view through January 19, 2025. 

Companion Program:
Artist Talk: Leo Villareal
Thursday, September 19
Member Reception: 5:00 p.m.
Public Artist Talk: 6:30 p.m.
Join Artist Leo Villareal for a public talk to learn more about his exhibition Interstellar, now on view at the Figge. Villareal's goal is to create a rich environment through his art in which emergent behavior can occur without a preconceived outcome. Members are invited to mingle for a reception starting at 5:00 p.m. The public Artist Talk begins at 6:30 p.m. Thursdays at the Figge are sponsored by Chris and Mary Rayburn.

About the Figge Art Museum: 
The Figge Art Museum is dedicated to bringing art and people together. Located on the Mississippi River in downtown Davenport at 225 West Second Street, the Figge is the premier art exhibition and education facility between Chicago and Des Moines. Its landmark glass building, designed by British architect David Chipperfield, is home to one of the Midwest’s finest art collections and presents world-class exhibitions, art classes, lectures, and special events that attract visitors of all ages. Museum hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Thursdays; and 12-5 p.m. on Sundays. Reservations are not required but can be made at www.figgeartmuseum.org or by calling 563-345-6632. Admission to the museum is $10 for adults, $6 for seniors and students with ID, and $4 for children ages 4-12. Admission is free to Figge members and institutional members and to all on Thursday evenings. You can become a member for as little as $50 by visiting the Figge website. To contact the museum, please call 563-326-7804, or visit www.figgeartmuseum.org. 

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