August Muth
August Muth is a pioneer in the exploration of light and color through holography. HIs artistic endeavors represent an extraordinary integration of the arts, science, and philosophy. He expands the boundaries of holography, using crafted light-sensitive emulsions and high-end lasers to create new color fields and larger holograms, which are very difficult to produce.
His creations depict simple geometric forms that are unconfined within the material dimension of the artwork and stretch beyond the bounds of the archival glass surface moving in space with the viewer.
The polychromatic character of these forms produces rich fields of color which are rarely experienced. He regards his work as an exploration into the natural realm of the photon where we have the opportunity to discover the mystery of light itself.
Flux, 2015, holographic light etching laminated in archival glass, 11.5" x 11”
Artist's Statement
As a past student of astronomy and physics, I regard my work as an exploration into the natural realm of the photon where we have the opportunity to discover the mystery of light itself. Through my ‘collaborations’ with laser light, I archive the relationship of photons within minimal forms revealing enduring compositions of material light. The polychromatic character of these forms produces rich fields of color which are rarely experienced. Luminous veils of poly-chromatic color invite the viewer into an intriguing holographic experience. One becomes enthralled by the beauty and tactile quality of this light.
Biography
August Muth exhibits internationally and is a pioneer in the exploration of light through the art of holography. His interest in light began at the age of 16 when he began making large water-filled glass prisms to refract light and explore prismatic color. In his late teens, as a jewelry maker in Aspen, Colorado, he became captivated by the alluring light of opals and diamonds. These interests laid the foundation for the beginning of his formal studies in art and physics at the University of New Mexico in 1975, and later at the University of Houston, and the University of Texas, Austin. He continued his formal studies specifically in holography at the Museum of Holography in New York City (1981–84). His studio, The Light Foundry, which was established in 1987 and is currently in Santa Fe, New Mexico, produces artworks exploring the light-space-time continuum.
Solaris #3, 2023, holographic light etching laminated in archival glass,
14” x 12”
Spherical Light #21, 2015, holographic light etching laminated in archival glass,
8” x 5.5”
Shadow Within Light, 2024, holographic light etching laminated in archival glass,
17.5" x 11.5”
Ingress, 2023, holographic light etching laminated in archival glass,
21" x 11.5”
Dark Matter, 2024, holographic light etching laminated in archival glass,
15” x 12.25”
SOLD
Terra Solaris, 2022, holographic light etching laminated in archival glass, 18" x 17", optical volume 9"
Spherical Light #14, 2016, holographic light etchings, laminated in archival glass, 16" x 9.5", optical volume 3"
Translucere #1, 2022, holograms laminated in glass, luminescent pigment, paint, 20" x 21", optical volume 5"
Lucid Dreamer, 2023, hologram etchings, luminescent pigment, laminated in archival glass, 10.25" x 12.25"
SOLD
Sheer Ambiance, 2023, holograms laminated in archival glass, cotton paper, pastel, 12.75" x 12"
Request full list of available artworks here or call 505-372-7681
Resumé
Education
Apprenticeship with Richard Rallison, pioneer in the field of optics (Hubble and Subaru space telescopes) and holography, Paradise, Utah, 1985-86
Museum of Holography, New York, NY, 1983-85 – with Fred Untersher, Director of Education
University of Texas, Austin, 1977-1978 – Studies in Visual Art and Astronomy
University of Texas, Houston, 1976-1977 – Studies in Sculpture with James Surls
University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, 1974-75 – Studies in Art and Physics.
Solo Shows
2022 Deepening the Light, Pie Projects, Santa Fe, NM
2021 August Muth, Multi-Arts Pavilion, Lake Macquarie, Australia
2019 Material Light, Gallery Sonja Roesch , Houston, TX ++
2017 Tactile Radiance, Chandra Cerrito Contemporary, Oakland, CA
2016 New Works, Hulse Warman Gallery, Taos, NM
Photonic Truth, Amy-d Arte Spazio Milan, Italy
2015 Borealis, Hulse Warman Gallery, Taos, NM
Light-Mind, Hap Gallery, Portland, OR
2013 Carnival of Shattered Dreams, Axel Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM
As the Light Returns, Hulse Warman Gallery, Taos, NM
2012 Light into Light, Hulse Warman Gallery, Taos, NM
2010 Warm Light Cold Nights, Hulse Warman Gallery, Taos. NM
2003 Light, Kittrell Riffkind Gallery, Dallas, TX
2001 Solid Air, Houston Center for Contemporary Crafts, Houston, TX
1999 Pure Light in Glass, Philabaum Glass Gallery, Tucson, AZ.
Selected Group Exhibitions
2024 Arthur Drooker + August Muth: A Moment to Wonder,
Pie Projects Contemporary Art, Santa Fe, NM (August 24 - September 21)
Mirage: Featuring Larry Bell, Ben Dallas, August Muth, Signe Stuart, Pie Projects Contemporary Art, Santa Fe, NM
2023 Inaugural Exhibition 'Shadow and Light,' Vladem Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM
Slice of Pie: Annual Invitation Exhibition, Pie Projects Contemporary Art, Santa Fe, NM
2023 Granada Gallery, Tuscon, AZ
2021 Finding Light, Sonja Roesch Gallery, Houston, TX
Altered Light, Currents 826 Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
2020 Waterhouse Dodd Gallery, New York, NY
Granada Gallery, Tucson, AZ
2019 Iridescence, Hologram Foundation and Holocenter New York, NY
2018 Currents New Media Festival, Santa Fe, NM
Art in Holography / Light Space & Time, Aveiro City Museum, Aveiro, Portugal
2017 BAG Bocconi Art Gallery , Milan, Italy
Enigma, OTA Contemporary, Santa Fe, NM
Waterhouse Dodd Gallery, Chicago Expo , NM Chicago, IL
Ripple Effect, Holocenter, New York, NY
Aura Kinetica, Currents New Media Festival , Santa Fe, NM
Immaru Gallery, MIA Photo Fair, Milan, Italy
Perception, Cinnabar Gallery, San Antonio, TX
2016 Luminescence, Gallery Sonja Roesch
Premio Michetti 2016, Fondazione Michetti
Currents New Media Festival
Visually speaking, Rebecca Fine Art Gallery
Color and light, MIA Photo fair
2015 International Exhibition of Holograms, Elisseev, St. Petersburg, Russia
Palace Dallas Art Fair, Nyehaus Gallery, Dallas, Texas
Inventory of Light, Gerald Peters Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
Collaboration, Gallery 286, London, UK
2014 A Contemporary Edge, Bonhams, London, UK
The Very Last Plastics Show, Dorfman Projects, New York, NY
Currents New Media Festival, Santa Fe, NM
Armory Show, Center for the Contemporary Arts, Santa Fe, NM
Momentary Realties, Cinnabar Fine Arts, San Antonio, TX
2013 No Paint, Gallery Sonja Roesch, Houston, TX,
Luminescent, Cloud 5, Santa Fe, NM
Light as Form, Midland Center for the Arts, NM Midland, MI
2012 Alcove Shows, New Mexico Museum of Fine Art, Santa Fe, NM
The Jeweled Net, MIT Museum, Cambridge, MA
2009 New Collection, Hulse Warman Gallery, Taos, NM
2008 Occam’s Razor, Santa Fe Complex, Santa Fe, NM
2004 Peace, Center for Contemporary Arts, Santa Fe, NM
2000 Holography 2000, St. Poltener Stadtmuseum, St Polten, Austria
1997 Sixth International Exhibition of Holography, Durand Art Institute, Lake Forest College , Lake Forest, IL
1996 The Light Show, Eidolon Gallery, Santa Fe, NM
Glass and Light, Fanny Garver Gallery, Madison, WI
1995 Lasers-Revolution at the Speed of Light, Fresno Metropolitan Museum, Fresno, CA
1994 Lichter Schmuck, Museum Fur Holographic Neue Visuelle Medien , Pulheim, Germany
Fifth International Exhibition of Holography, Durand Art Institute, Lake Forest College, Lake Forest, IL
1979 Xylem Gallery, Houston, TX.
Public Commissions
2013 Aurora Borealis, Fantase- Creative Santa Fe, Santa Fe, NM
2009 Light of the Ancients, McMillian Building, Paso Robles, CA.
Public Collections
Museum of Holography, New York, NY
MIT Museum, Cambridge, MA
Corning Museum of Glass Corning, NY
Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, OH.
Lectures and Published Papers
2015 What Was I Thinking When I Thought Producing 4 by 5 Foot Denisyuk DCG Holograms Was a Good Idea, ISDH, Conference, ISTO University, St. Petersburg, Russia
2012 Investigating the Spherical Nature of Light Through Large Format DCG Emulsions on Glass, ISDH Conference, MIT Media Lab , Cambridge, MA
2011 Holography, Glass, and the Exploration of Light – Space, Glass Arts Society Conference, Seattle, WA
2004 Large Dichromate Holograms in Heavy Glass, SPIE Photonics West, Santa Clara, CA
1999 Pulse-Originated Human Figures Transferred into Dichromate Gelatin Reflection Holograms, ISDH Conference, Lake Forest, IL .
Publications
2016 Under the Radar: August Muth, by Ann Landi, http://vasari21.com, September, Taos NM
August Muth and Dora Tass, by Christian D’Antonio, The Way Magazine, May, Milan, Italy
2014 Lit – August Muth talks about light, holography and the environment, by Christina Procter, EcoSource, Magazine, Winter/Spring, Santa Fe, NM
2010 Critical Reflections - August Muth: Holographic Images in Glass, by Jon Carver, THE magazine,July, Santa Fe, NM
Universe of artist August Muth, by Guy Cross, THE magazine, May, Santa Fe, NM.
Special Projects
2010 Research and development to record movie sound track holographically
2008-10 Holographic solar concentrators for photovoltaic arrays
2009 3D holographic video display unit.