Mads Christensen has cultivated his creative prowess to create visual and emotional experiences using light as medium. Trained as an electrical engineer, the sculptures are a fusion of his uniquely written software and the intangible qualities of his artist practice. Following in the footsteps of groundbreaking artists exploring this medium such as James Turrell, Doug Wheeler, Dan Flavin, and Olafur Eliasson, Christensen is 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.

Represented by Timothy Yarger Fine Art, Los Angeles, www.yargerfineart.com

 

Artist statement

I am inspired by light. And how can we not be inspired by light? The sun is the source of energy for everyone and everything in existence. We all pause for a minute to take in the sunset, or take a deep breath when the sun rises above the horizon as a new day begins. The transitions between day and night, and night and day, are deeply meaningful to us on a basic existential level, a direct emotional connection to our brains. In our modern lives we have come to depend less on these transitions but they are still ingrained in us. The sun existed long before we were here and will continue to emit its abundant energy long after we are gone. To me the sun represents eternity and I see it as the only constant in our being. The sun is the ultimate time keeper. This is why I am compelled to use light as medium incorporating temporal elements. My work pulls from these fundamental entities, expressing light and time in new ways that remind us where we all came from.

 

Education

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

 

Selected exhibitions

2021

“It’s all about light”, High Line Nine, New York, NY

“Resurrector Redux” installation, Bombay Beach, CA

 

2020

Hearst Corporation, corporate collection

Timothy Yarger Fine Art, group show, fALL Back to the Future, Autumn @ Home

 

2019

“AI: Artistic Intelligence”, solo show, High Line Nine, New York, NY

“Resurrector” installation, Bombay Beach Biennale, Bombay Beach, CA

Special presentation: “Certain Angles”, LA Art Show, Los Angeles, CA

 

2017

Jerusalem Light Festival, Public Exhibition of International Artists, Jerusalem, Israel.

“Gated” public art installation, Craft & Folk Art Museum, Los Angeles, CA

DARC Awards Winner, London, UK

Canary Wharf Winter Lights, London, UK

 

2016

“Entropy” at ArtMarket San Francisco, San Francisco, CA

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

 

2015

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

“We love DTLA”, group show, Nationbuilder.com, Los Angeles, CA

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

 

2014

“Mads Christensen: In Light Of”, solo show, Timothy Yarger Fine Art, Beverly Hills, CA

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

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

“Come In! SMLXLa”, Architecture & Design Museum, Los Angeles, CA

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

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

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

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

Luminale, Frankfurt, Germany

Create:Fixate, Los Angeles, CA

 

2013

“Glow”, Santa Monica, CA

 

Selected art fairs

2021

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

Intersect 21, Timothy Yarger Fine Art, artsy.com

 

2020

Art Miami, Timothy Yarger Fine Art, artsy.com

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

Art Palm Beach, Timothy Yarger Fine Art, Palm Beach, FL

 

2019

Art Miami, Timothy Yarger Fine Art, Miami, FL

EXPO Chicago, Timothy Yarger Fine Art, Chicago, IL

Jackson Hole Fine Art Fair, Timothy Yarger Fine Art, Jackson Hole, WY

Seattle Art Fair, Timothy Yarger Fine Art, Seattle, WA

ArtAspen, Timothy Yarger Fine Art, Aspen, CO

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

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

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

Art Palm Beach, Timothy Yarger Fine Art, Palm Beach, FL

 

2018

Art Miami, Timothy Yarger Fine Art, Miami, FL

Texas Contemporary, Timothy Yarger Fine Art, Houston, TX

ArtAspen, Timothy Yarger Fine Art, Aspen, CO

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

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

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

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

 

Benefit auctions

2014

Los Angeles Art Association Benefit Auction, Los Angeles, CA

 

Grants

2014

Burning Man, Art Honorarium: “Ripple”

 

Lectures & panels

2021

Intersect 2021, “Hyperion Hope” with Ruth Pastine, moderated by Hunter Philp.

 

2016

SCI-Arc special lecture, Los Angeles, CA

 

2015

Artist talk, Lightwaves, Salford Quays, United Kingdom

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

 

2014

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

“The challenges and rewards of displaying art in public”, Frankfurt, Germany

 

Special Projects

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

Hardware and software development for artist Claudia Bueno, Pulse installation at

Meow Wolf interactive experience, Las Vegas, NV, 2019-2021

Hardware and software development for 3D artwork, artist Joshua Kirsch, 2015-2019

Hardware and software development for interactive furniture, Atelier Kiduck Kim, 2014-2018

Hardware and software development for video installations, artist Evie Leder, 2016-2017

Heart-shaped light engine for interactive art installation, Collective Heart, 2015

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

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

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