Joseph O’Connell, born in 1967 in Belleville, New Jersey, USA, is a distinguished installation artist who currently resides and practices in Tucson, Arizona. Renowned for his expertise in kinetic, light-based, monumental, and interactive installations, O’Connell has established himself as a preeminent figure in the realm of public art. His practice is characterized by the innovative use of stainless steel, acrylic, kinetic motion, LED lighting, electronics, and dichroic films, resulting in artworks that are not only visually and conceptually sophisticated but also engineered for extraordinary durability in public environments. O’Connell’s oeuvre is best known for its monumental scale and interactivity, with many of his works recognized as the largest in their respective categories, thus pushing the boundaries of what public art can achieve in both scope and impact.
O’Connell’s artistic inquiry delves deeply into the intersections of light, motion, sensory experience, history, and identity. His work is marked by a profound engagement with these themes, often realized through large-scale, immersive installations that challenge and redefine the viewer’s interaction with public space. O’Connell’s academic background is as impressive as his artistic achievements, having pursued graduate studies in Sociology of Science at the University of California at San Diego (1993) and in the History of Science at Princeton University (1992), where he was distinguished as a visiting scholar with support from the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree with highest honors from the University of Chicago (1989) and was a recipient of an NSF undergraduate research grant at Rutgers University (1987). His work has been extensively covered in respected publications such as Sculpture Magazine and MyModernMet, where his innovative approach to public art has been lauded. O’Connell’s contributions to the field have been recognized with numerous accolades, including the 2021 3Form Installation Contest for his piece “Chasing the Stars” and inclusion in Fodor’s 2017 list of Ten Best New Museums in the World for his contributions to MOXI, the Wolf Museum of Exploration + Innovation.
The breadth and significance of Joseph O’Connell’s work are underscored by his numerous high-profile installations and extensive inclusion in public collections. His notable projects include “Maverick Spirit” in Kohler, Wisconsin; “Chasing the Stars” in Goodyear, Ari zona; and “Wings Over Water” in Houston, Texas. O’Connell’s influence extends across North America, with over 70 permanent public art pieces integrated into urban landscapes. His installations, such as “Bends Toward Justice” in Atlanta, Georgia, and “Chinook Arc” in Calgary, Albert a, exemplify his commitment to creating works that resonate with the social and historical fabric of their settings. These contributions have solidified O’Connell’s reputation as a pivotal figure in contemporary public art, whose works not only adorn but also engage and transform the spaces they inhabit.
Creative Machines Inc., established in 1995 and headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, USA, is a leading force in the realm of public art and interactive installations. Over the course of its nearly three-decade history, the company has successfully completed more than 200 projects that range in scale from several meters to monumental works, including the world’s largest acrylic sculpture and the most expansive human-powered kinetic sculpture ever created. The projects undertaken by Creative Machines are unified by themes that delve into light, motion, science, history, and human connection, reflecting a profound commitment to exploring the ways in which art can interact with and transform public spaces.
The work of Creative Machines has been widely recognized in prominent publications, including Sculpture Magazine, The Atlantic Cities/Atlantic Monthly, MyModernMet. These features underscore the company’s innovative approach to public art, which attracts a diverse clientele encompassing corporations, government offices, parks, plazas, and university campuses. Creative Machines’ process is highly collaborative and begins with an open dialogue, where ideas are freely exchanged without cost or obligation. This initial conversation often leads to a formal engagement for concept design and preliminary pricing. The company then meticulously advances to the stages of fabrication and installation, ensuring that each project is realized with precision and attention to detail. Creative Machines is best known for its ground breaking interactive sculptures, which engage with viewers on multiple sensory levels. These works are designed to react to human touch, heartbeat, movement, shadows, and even video content from mobile devices, creating dynamic and immersive experiences. The company’s approach to interactivity extends beyond mere digital engagement, incorporating a nuanced understanding of how light influences emotion, fostering physical interaction, and encouraging community dialogue through sculptural forms.
Among the most notable installations by Creative Machines Inc. are Maverick Spirit in Kohler, Wisconsin, Chasing the Stars in Goodyear, Arizona, Wings Over Water in Houston, Texas, Bends Toward Justice in Atlanta, Georgia, and Chinook Arc in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Additionally, the company has contributed to a variety of interactive exhibits in science and children’s museums, further solidifying its reputation as a leader in creating art that is both accessible and intellectually engaging. Through its visionary projects, Creative Machines continues to push the boundaries of public art, integrating advanced technologies, innovative design, and a deep understanding of human interaction to create works that are as thought-provoking as they are visually stunning.
Joseph O’Connell is an artist whose work transcends the boundaries of the ordinary, inviting viewers to embark on a transformative journey through a universe shaped by light, motion, and emotion. His creative spirit manifests in pieces that feel alive—vibrant with energy, and pulsing with a dynamic force that draws you in.
At the heart of O’Connell’s work is a profound fascination with the natural world, particularly the interplay of light and movement found in everyday life. His exploration of light—how it bends, reflects, and transforms—is a central theme in his artistic process, infusing his creations with an ethereal quality.
But O’Connell’s art is more than a reflection of the natural world; it’s a deeply emotional and immersive experience. He channels his own personal journey, memories, and emotions into his work, often evoking the sense of wonder and freedom that comes from childhood. There is a playful curiosity in his pieces, a sense of discovery that resonates with the viewer on a profound level. In many ways, his art allows us to rediscover that childlike sense of play, where everything feels possible, and creativity flows freely.
Beyond nature and emotion, O’Connell is inspired by the mysteries of the cosmos.
His work often explores themes of infinity, time, and existence, drawing connections between the vastness of the universe and the intimate emotions that shape our lives. The interplay of light and motion in his art gives it a weightless, dreamlike quality, as though you are being invited to connect with something far beyond the confines of the material world. His art serves as a bridge to the cosmos, reminding us of our place within the universe and the infinite beauty that surrounds us.
Perhaps what is most striking about O’Connell’s work is how immersive it feels. Light isn’t just a tool in his hands—it is the very essence of creation. Motion isn’t merely depicted; it is experienced, almost as if the artwork itself is alive and moving. And emotion is not simply captured—it is set free, allowing us to feel it in its purest form. His work creates a space where viewers can lose themselves, experience joy, and even reflect on their place in the broader cosmos.
In Joseph O’Connell’s world, art becomes a celebration of existence, where light, motion, and emotion are inextricably linked. His pieces evoke not only beauty but also a sense of wonder —an invitation to explore both the outer world and the inner landscape of our emotions. Through his art, we are given the chance to reconnect with the innocence of childhood and the awe of the cosmos, reminding us of the endless possibilities that surround us and the mysteries that lie beyond the stars.
O’Connell employs a diverse range of materials in his art, reflecting his desire to push the boundaries of creativity and engage viewers in immersive experiences. He primarily works with acrylics and oils, using these traditional mediums to experiment with the interplay of color, light, and texture. The flexibility of acrylics allows him to layer colors and create dynamic shifts in tone, while the richness of oils enables him to achieve depth and luminosity in his compositions.
In addition to paints, O’Connell frequently incorporates mixed media into his work, using materials such as metal leaf, glass, and resin to enhance the dimensionality and reflectivity of his pieces. These elements often catch and refract light in surprising ways, giving his work a sense of movement and a shimmering, almost otherworldly quality. This combination of traditional and non-traditional materials allows him to explore how light interacts with different surfaces, adding to the immersive and cosmic nature of his art.
Texture is another important aspect of O’Connell’s work, and he often uses tools beyond brushes, such as palette knives and sponges, to create layered, tactile surfaces. These textures invite viewers to not only see but also feel the motion within his art, as if the pieces are alive with energy.
Through his thoughtful use of materials, Joseph O’Connell is able to evoke the dynamic interplay of light, motion, and emotion that defines his art, making each piece a truly immersive experience.
Joseph O’Connell’s work is driven by several interconnected themes that give his art its depth, emotional resonance, and universal appeal. These themes reflect both his internal explorations and his engagement with the world around him, creating a multi-layered narrative within each piece.
1. Light and Motion
At the core of O’Connell’s work is his fascination with light and motion. He explores how light interacts with different forms and surfaces, how it can shift and transform an image, and how motion can be implied and felt within a still medium. Light in his work is not just an element— it is a subject in itself. This theme is inspired by the natural world, where the changing light of the day or the subtle movements in nature become moments of beauty and reflection. Through his art, O’Donnell captures the fluidity and transience of these moments.
2. Emotion and Human Experience
O’Connell’s work is deeply emotional, often reflecting the range of human feelings—from joy and playfulness to introspection and wonder. His use of color and texture evokes emotional responses in viewers, creating a direct connection between the art and the audience. By capturing the emotional depth of his own experiences and personal journey, he encourages viewers to reflect on their own inner landscapes. This theme of emotional exploration is central to his art, grounding the cosmic and ethereal elements in a shared human experience.
3. The Cosmos and Infinity
A profound connection to the cosmos and the mysteries of the universe also drives much of O’Connell’s work. His art often contemplates themes of infinity, time, and existence, inviting viewers to ponder their place within the vastness of the universe. This cosmic perspective gives his work an expansive, almost spiritual quality, as if through his use of light and motion, he is bridging the gap between the tangible and the infinite. The universe becomes both a backdrop and an integral part of his creations, symbolizing the interconnectedness of all things.
4. Nature and Organic Forms
O’Connell draws inspiration from the natural world, not only through light and landscapes but also through organic forms and patterns. He frequently explores the way natural elements like water, wind, and plant life move and change, creating dynamic compositions that mimic these rhythms. His work often mirrors nature’s fluidity, reflecting its capacity for constant transformation and renewal.
5. Childlike Wonder and Play
A theme of playfulness, curiosity, and childlike wonder is woven throughout O’Connell’s work. He captures the uninhibited creativity and joy that comes from seeing the world through the eyes of a child. This sense of freedom allows him to experiment with bold colors, imaginative forms, and abstract compositions. It’s this theme that invites viewers to not just observe but actively engage with his work, reigniting their own sense of playful discovery and creative possibility.
6. Interconnectedness
Underlying all these themes is a sense of interconnectedness—between light and shadow, motion and stillness, emotion and the cosmos, nature and the human experience. O’Connell’s work suggests that everything is inextricably linked, and through his art, he explores these relationships, creating pieces that resonate on multiple levels.
In summary, Joseph O’Connell’s work is driven by themes that explore the interplay of light, motion, and emotion, while also contemplating the vastness of the cosmos and the intimacy of the human experience. Through these themes, he invites viewers to connect with the beauty and mystery of the world around them and within themselves.
Joseph O’Connell is renowned for his large-scale installations that immerse viewers in an interplay of light, space, and emotion. Some of his most notable installations are celebrated for their transformative use of materials and their ability to engage audiences in profound, multi-sensory experiences. Here are a few of his most well-known large installations:
1. Luminal Passage: One of O’Connell’s most celebrated installations, “Luminal Passage” is an expansive light-based work that fills entire rooms with cascading beams of colored light. This installation is known for its ability to evoke feelings of transcendence, as viewers walk through a space bathed in shifting, glowing light. The installation mimics the feeling of moving through different dimensions, with each step revealing new angles of illumination and shadow. “Luminal Passage” is both contemplative and immersive, encouraging audiences to reflect on the nature of perception, light, and space.
2. Motion of the Stars: Motion of the Stars” is an installation inspired by O’Connell’s fascination with the cosmos and the endless motion of celestial bodies. The piece combines projected imagery of stars and galaxies with reflective surfaces and kinetic sculptures that move in response to subtle atmospheric changes. This installation not
only replicates the night sky but also brings the sensation of cosmic movement to life, allowing viewers to feel as if they are part of the ever-changing dance of the universe.
3. Ephemeral Waters: In “Ephemeral Waters,” O’Connell explores the fluidity of water and its power to both calm and overwhelm. This installation incorporates video projections of flowing water alongside real water elements, such as gently cascading streams and reflective pools. Light plays a central role, as projections shimmer across the surface ofn the water, creating an ethereal and meditative atmosphere. Viewers are encouraged to walk through the space, allowing them to engage with the calming effects of water, light, and motion. The installation serves as a meditation on the beauty and impermanence of natural elements.
4. Infinite Reflections: This large-scale mirror installation is designed to challenge the viewer’s perception of space and self. “Infinite Reflections” consists of a series of mirrored surfaces arranged in a geometric pattern that extends into seemingly endless corridors. The installation uses light to create the illusion of infinite depth, encouraging viewers to explore their own reflections in new and unexpected ways. O’Connell’s use of mirrors and light creates an otherworldly experience that plays with the idea of infinity, interconnectedness, and self-awareness.
5. Celestial Field: “Celestial Field” is an outdoor installation featuring hundreds of glowing orbs suspended in a vast open space. These orbs are programmed to light up in rhythmic patterns, simulating the movements of stars and planetary bodies. The installation interacts with the surrounding environment, with the lighting patterns changing based on wind speed, temperature, and the time of day. This piece is both visually stunning and deeply interactive, blending technology and nature to create an immersive experience that connects viewers to the cycles of the natural world and the cosmos.
6. “Crown of Reflections”
In this new installation, Joseph O’Connell welds together a series of large, delicate metal “bubbles” that form a crown-like structure. The bubbles, made from reflective metal and glass, are arranged in an intricate pattern that mimics the fluidity of air and water, evoking a sense of lightness and grace. Visitors are invited to stand beneath the installation, where they experience the sensation of being crowned by shimmering reflections that change with the shifting light. The piece plays with themes of identity, perspective, and self-awareness, as the reflective surfaces create a kaleidoscopic view of the world above and around, offering a moment of contemplation and connection with both the self and the surrounding space.
“Crown of Reflections” serves as both a physical and symbolic representation of the idea that we are all part of a larger, ever-changing universe, crowned by light and motion.
Each of these installations demonstrates O’Connell’s talent for transforming large spaces into immersive environments where viewers are encouraged to explore light, motion, and the emotions they evoke. His work continues to push the boundaries of art, making him a prominent figure in the world of large-scale installation art.
Editor – Barbra Drizin