Doubling Back, Installation view at the 2004 Whitney Biennial. Photo by Hank Graber

Anthony McCall is an artist who creates sculptural installations of pure light. Born in England and currently based in New York, McCall has exhibited his volumetric light objects all over the world.

Face to Face, installation view at Sean Kelly Gallery, New York

I’m really amazed by McCall’s use of a medium that few would consider for this type of art practice. The artist’s works mainly consist of a series of well-placed lights in darkened rooms. The light diffuses across a predetermined layer of space, creating cone-like shapes that appear to have volume and solidity but can be disrupted by viewers walking past or through them.

McCall’s practice reminds me of other artists working with light, such as James Turrell and Carlo Bernardini. Where these artists focus on how light interacts with an existing space, McCall manipulates the space to suit the light – using smoke machines and previously, existing dust and cigarette smoke to allow the light to take on a larger form. 

Between You and I, sixteenth minute. Installation at Peer/The Round Chapel, London. Photo by  Hugo Glendenning