Virginia Kistler: Illuminated Landscapes

Illuminated Landscapes is an ongoing series of work by artist Virginia Kistler. Her work is born out of the intersection of science and technology, while driven by her interest in the rapidly changing landscapes in which we all live. She mines systems found in the natural world and contemporary technology to create two-dimensional work and sculptural forms.

Kistler’s process includes using two-dimensional imagery and photography in the creation of her sculptural works. She uses impressions that are unseen and ephemeral, such as fungi spore prints, aerial maps of green space, light maps of urban landscapes, sound impressions, and interference patterns. Using these natural phenomena and technological systems, she dissects and synthesizes the information to create three-dimensional forms as a mechanism for understanding our shifting world.

In her work, she uses light as a surrogate for humanity. Inspired by light impressions of urban spaces, as seen from the International Space Station, Kistler incorporates light as a way to reference the loss of natural habitats and expansion of urban environments. 

Illuminated Landscapes will include new work created for the 2022 FotoFocus Biennial: World Record.