Ben Livingston

2019

65’6” x 4’2” x 16” Neon and Aluminum

Courtesy of Cherryl Peterman

1996

Neon steel and copper

Austin Convention Center Palazzo, Austin, TX

Courtesy, Austin Art in Public Places permanent collection

Photo: Paul Bardagjy

1991

Various phosphorescent materials and argon in colored glass luminous tubes and wood

82” x 288” x 8”

Bass Concert Hall

Courtesy of Texas Performing Arts - The University of Texas at Austin Permanent Collection, Austin, TX

Photo: Carrington Weems

2005

Neon

In collaboration with Janet Lennox Moyer

Courtesy of The Chicago Botanical Garden, Glencoe, IL

Photo: George Gruel

1996

Acrylic, pencil and charcoal and neon on canvas

60” x 84” x 6”

Spirit Square Theater

Courtesy of The Blumenthal Performing Arts Center Permanent Collection, Charlotte, NC

Photo: Smiley Pool

1995

Various phosphorescent materials and argon in colored glass luminous tubes, Agave Americana stalk, copper and steel

192” x 108” x 13”

Courtesy of Citizen's Memorial Hospital Plaza Permanent Collection, Victoria, TX

(RFQ Proposal)

Public Bicycle Locks

Austin, TX

Proposal

Memorial to Robert Smithson for The Amarillo Arts Center

Neon and plate steel

45’ X 8’ x 4’

Austin, Texas - 1986, It was time to make my own art for a change. I didn't get into neon to make signs, I had to do commercial signage because traditional training is the best way to learn this craft, so I did it the old school - apprenticeship way....

I was barely scratching out a living making neon signs back then but I finally got to the point where it was time to do my own thing..

With inspiration from artist friend, Terry Powell, my electrical genius pal, Frank Roberts and others, we adorned the entire 14’ x 35’ front of my old studio (just off Austin’s west 5th street) with an all neon cartoon anti war protest, in the form of a 54 second animated neon mural story of a child’s view of the end of the world/cycle of life.

The entrance to my home was right through the neon house door.

As soon as we flipped the switch that first fateful evening, passers-by started pulling over to behold our bigger than life- neon story cartoon, which became a landmark spectacle to millions over the next twenty two years.

Early on, we were urged to enter a very prestigious international lighting competition, which to our great surprise, we won! Runners up included all kinds of famous monuments, including the Statue of Liberty!

Frank said it best in an interview in Architectural Lighting Magazine: "Hell, we won an Oscar for a home movie, they ain't seen nothin' yet!"

1988

The four winners of the Paul Waterbury International Lighting Design Award,

1987 - 2008 (24/7 - dusk to dawn). Artist’s studio, Austin, TX

A 54 second cyclical story of a child’s view of the cycle of life.

Rendered in neon, controlled by a homemade sequentially animating computer.

14’ x 35’ x 8”

Neon Mural #1 was awarded the 1988 Paul Waterbury International Illuminating Design Award. Runners up included “The Lotus Flower Temple” Bahai House of Worship in New Delhi, India and the Statue of Liberty.

Future property of The Museum of Neon Art, Glendale, CA

Photo by Carrington Weems

1985

Neon

7’ x 10’ x 2”

Collaboration with Patrick Wadley

Replica available for purchase

1989

Neon, spotlight and cactus

Illustration for Landscape Design article by Jan Lenox Moyer, Architectural Lighting Magazine

Photo: Smiley Pool

2016

Proposal

(Part 2) The Ghost Activity LED display

A two part interactive - sound activated light sculpture for the San Angelo museum, San Angelo, TX.

Proposal: Paranormal experts deploy strategically placed special microphones in Fort Concho’s legendary “OQ1” haunted quarters (see pictured here). Detected signal broadcasts ghost’s audio signal to a receiver, activating light sculpture across from the San Angelo Museum, 1/2 mile away on a 8’ x 60’ LED display.

I conjured this idea up while I was spending a very spooky night in the “haunted” fort Concho “OQ1 Officer’s Quarters.

While in San Angelo, I learned that a lot of folks who live there believe in ghosts, many with plenty of stories that confirm it for them. Others, not so much. What makes the installation interesting to all is the conversation that ensues between believers and non believers when unconfirmed sounds from OQ1 are proven by radio transmission into dancing lights for all at the museum to witness.

2016

Art Commission Proposal

(Part 1) The Ghost Activity Transmitter

A two part interactive sound - activated light sculpture for the San Angelo museum, San Angelo, TX.

Proposal: Paranormal experts deploy strategically placed special microphones in Fort Concho’s legendary “OQ1” haunted quarters (see pictured here). Detected signal broadcasts ghost’s audio signal to a receiver, activating light sculpture across from the San Angelo Museum, 1/2 mile away on a 8’ x 60’ LED display.

I conjured this idea up while I was spending a very spooky night in the “haunted” fort Concho “OQ1 Officer’s Quarters.

While in San Angelo, I learned that a lot of folks who live there believe in ghosts, many with plenty of stories that confirm it for them. Others, not so much. What makes the installation interesting to all is the conversation that ensues between believers and non believers when unconfirmed sounds from OQ1 are proven by radio transmission into dancing lights for all at the museum to witness.

2001

72” x 60” 28”

Neon, steel, oak, chain and shackles

Installed at the Bass Concert Hall during the George W. Bush administration 2001- 2009

Courtesy of Louis Black and Sandy Boone

Photo: Todd Wolfson

2014

Environmental installation in Atrium

Living plants, moss and frogs. Steel, various phosphorescent materials and argon in colored glass luminous tubes, copper and stage lighting. Mural by Neil Cronk.

10’ x 12’ x 8’

Courtesy of Louis Black and Sandy Boone

1994

Public RFQ finalist proposal for Union Station, LA, CA

Illustration by Heidi Goebel

1994

Public RFQ finalist proposal for Union Station, LA, CA

“Lumen - Guardian Angels of the Benevolent Spirit”

Illustration by Heidi Goebel

1995

Drawing

To The City of Austin - “Arts in Public Places”

Confabulating Orbits (drawing from juror's proposal booklet "IF")

1996

1996