Leo Villareal’s Celestial Garden Opens at Guild Hall

Celestial Garden, an exhibition by Leo Villareal opened at Guild Hall on August 5^th in the newly renovated Marks Family Gallery South. Guild Hall is located at 158 Main Street in East Hampton, and this exhibition will be on view in the gallery until October 15^th.

The exhibition features the premiere of Villareal’s newest light sculpture: Celestial Garden. He uses computer-generated algorithms as his medium to create hypnotic light, grand-scale artworks. Villareal utilizes a custom computer software and complex coding for his designs, with an end result that is highly unique, creating light forms that move and transform. Celestial Garden is yet another fantastic feat in the light medium that will be displayed for two months exclusively at Guild Hall.

Celestial Garden is more than 10 feet tall and 28 feet wide, and it is made up of an array of LED lights that are dispersed through vinyl, making for a grand light sculpture. Zero-gravity chairs were designed by Villareal for viewers to sit in and immerse themselves more fully in the art. The light work was inspired by nature with its complex configurations and movement. The installation will not only capture the sense of sight, but sound as well. An ambient, tonal soundscape created and composed by Villareal will accompany the imagery for a truly immersive and sensory experience.

Leo Villareal is an artist based in New York City and the North Fork of Long Island. For thirty years, he has been crafting sequenced light artworks for museums and public spaces internationally; he has transformed iconic city landmarks with his vibrant installations. 

Villareal says, “I am honored to have an opportunity to exhibit my latest work, Celestial Garden, at Guild Hall. I very much appreciate Guild Hall’s history, which embraces a long-term interdisciplinary program as well as civically engaged interactions with the community. As a resident of Orient, NY, I am inspired by the deep creative legacy of arts on Long Island and am happy to be part of this legacy.”

Guild Hall is equally excited to welcome the New York-based artist. Melanie Crader, Director of Visual Arts at Guild Hall spoke about the anticipation and intricacies of the artist’s work, saying, “Villareal’s monumental, mural-sized light sculpture references the history of mark-making and painting, and will resonate with our visitors as artists have always been attracted to the East End of Long Island for its stunning natural light properties.”

Executive Director of Guild Hall, Andrea Grover, further discussed the cultural center’s excitement by noting, “We are thrilled to present Leo Villareal’s Celestial Garden. Villareal’s visionary techniques, combining experiential technology and light art, are aligned with Guild Hall’s mission to bring leading contemporary art to East Hampton. We are excited to share Leo’s immersive exhibition with our visitors in our new and improved gallery.”

Guild Hall can’t wait to welcome visitors to Leo Villareal: Celestial Garden, which will be on view in the Marks Family Gallery South from August 5^th through October 15^th of the 2023 season from 12:00 to 5:00 p.m. Thursday to Sunday. Gallery hours differ after Labor Day, and starting September 4^th they will be open Friday to Monday, 12:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Head over to Guild Hall in East Hampton where admission is free and enjoy the immersive experience of Celestial Garden! To learn more, visit https://www.guildhall.org.