Dan Flavin

Dan Flavin was born April 1, 1933, Died November 29, 1996. He studied for the priesthood at the Immaculate Conception Preparatory Seminary in Brooklyn. 1952 left to join his fraternal twin brother in the Air Force. During military service in 1954–55, Flavin was trained as a air weather meteorological technician. Upon his return to New York in 1956, Flavin briefly attended the Hans Hofmann School of Fine Arts and studied art under Albert Urban. He later studied art history for a short time at the New School for Social Research, then moved on to Columbia University, where he studied painting and drawing.

 Flavin's works is with fluorescent light as a medium. He main focus is the light play on the walls and objects around the light. He embrace the fluorescent fixture as an aesthetic object. This forward thing placed him at the forefront of a generation of artists whose use of industrial materials. 

 greens crossing greens (to Piet Mondrian who lacked green), 1966. © 2012 Stephen Flavin/Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photo: David Heald © SRGF

What he was able to create space out of nothing using different florescent colors in dark rooms to give a new quality of art. This engages the view to respond to the patterns of light that is created by the fluorescent lights.

Dan Flavin was an American Minimalist who focus was on sculptural objects and creating a repetition in his installation. This gives the view a sense of wonder and ideas of how he can create artworks out of light. 

 Dan Flavin, untitled 1973

 The fluorescent light wash over the walls creating color. These colors mix, so the white walls seem to be painted. They bathe the area and any visitor with a warm and completely artificial glow. This artificial glow creates to piece and brings the view in closer to the artwork.  

 Dan Flavin was a very unique artist who could influence a room with his dancing light. Bring life to a room as it inhabits the space around it. Often  Dan Flavin evoke a cheerful response from visitors, he does have darker pieces. One piece called Monument 4 maned for those who have been killed in an ambush. Was created in response to the Vietnam War, is made from blood-colored tubes that jut off the wall aggressively. This piece invades the viewer's space.

 monument 4 for those who have been killed in ambush (to P.K. who reminded me about death), 1966

Flavin was one of he most influence artist in the last 30 years.