Hong Kong, Tokyo, London, New York—San Francisco. That's right, with no shortage of world-class light installations, SF holds more than a candle to the globe's most important art cities in the digital age.
And when light, natural or not, is used as an artistic medium, all kinds of uploadable, no-filter-needed joy ensues.
Even when Karl the Fog comes rolling in, our city by the sea can't help but be aglow with dozens of delightful light art installations. Some play off the natural light that cuts through the overcast skies come high noon; others take advantage of an absence of light, utilizing LEDs and fluorescent tubings to transform otherwise dark spaces.
Here are 18 luminous artwork that will brighten up your night.
'The Bay Lights,' by Leo Villareal (2013)
It's safe to say there's never been a light installation in San Francisco that comes close to the scale of The Bay Lights (well, except for Jim Campbell's Salesforce Tower crown; but more on that in a minute). New York–based artist Leo Villareal brought global attention to the city in 2013 when he installed 25,000 white LED lights on the 1.8-mile-long western span of the Bay Bridge; the lights twinkle in ever-shifting patterns from dusk until dawn. Originally intended for a two-year run, the Bay Lights may now sparkle indefinitely.
