Dan Flavin

Dan Flavin was an American minimalist artist born in 1933 who became widely known for his use of commercially available fluorescent light fixtures as sculpture. Beginning in the early 1960s, he created installations that transformed galleries into immersive environments of colored light. Rather than altering the fixtures, Flavin arranged standard tubes in precise configurations, allowing light, shadow, and architectural space to become central elements of the work. His projects often responded directly to the dimensions and surfaces of specific sites, blurring the boundary between object and environment. Over time, he dedicated many works to fellow artists, friends, and historical figures. Flavin’s practice redefined sculpture by emphasizing perception and spatial experience instead of traditional materials. He continued developing light-based installations until his death in 1996, leaving a lasting mark on contemporary art.