Xavier Bellante

Lives and works in California, USA

Artist statement

There is one common thread in all art from the Greeks to giant balloon dogs. Light. Natural light is a great way to see art, but it doesn’t have to be the only way. Up until now, if you wanted to see art in a different way, you had to go to a specialized exhibition. 3 lights style artwork is different. It’s gorgeous in natural light, it fluoresces and looks unique under blacklight, and then, it glows in the dark for a third experience. It does all that in one piece. Layers of color and texture interweave with light and shadow to create art that requires close inspection and investigation. The artwork is designed for an interactive experience. Without any electronic components or specialized hardware, you can involve your senses with your own handheld blacklight, sifting through the image with your mind attuned to the details. As your eyes rove the canvas, you discover more layers and find new colors from new angles. Just when you think you’re done, turn off your lights and see an entirely new piece. This is an entirely new way to see art, and pictures are woefully inadequate to show the complexity of this artwork. It really needs to be seen in person, yet we are quarantined. So, until 3 lights style artwork comes to galleries in a post-Covid world, please enjoy the virtual experience.

Artwork