Creative Mind: Sébastien Léon
The Los Angeles–based artist and designer’s most recent glass lighting works, on view at Ralph Pucci, play a trick on the eyes
The illuminated glassworks conjured by Sébastien Léon play tricks on the eyes, appearing first as solid metal sculptures and then morphing into ethereal, translucent lamps when lit from within. This optical illusion winks at Léon’s childhood spent in France’s scenic Loire Valley, home to the Robert-Houdin House of Magic, which inspired endless hours of daydreaming. “Design and magic are important in my work,” reflects Léon, who is now based in Los Angeles. “I’m interested in hiding the function of a piece.”
His latest series of light sculptures, dubbed Mirage, is the result of a meticulous glassblowing process that leaves room for the unknown. “I start with a very formal geometric recipe and then introduce chaos and accidents,” he explains of his creations, recently on view at Ralph Pucci in New York.
Man of many talents: After beginning his career as a creative director, Léon branched off into installations, art, and collectible design, becoming a go-to collaborator for companies such as Audi and Samsung.
Creative process: A revelation with glass came in 2019, thanks to Gemfields, a fine-stone mining company that tapped him for its booth at Design Miami/. “I like glass because it’s a medium of transmutation,” he says. “It starts with sand, then uses fire to become liquid and then air to make solid.”
Prolific output: The Los Angeles outpost of gallery Praz-Delavallade recently staged “A Crack in My Cosmic Egg,” a solo show that included paintings, sound sculptures, and drawings. “I make sense of chaos,” he says of the works, which align with his newly released book, Psychodessins (Hat & Beard Press).
A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2024 Spring Issue under the headline “Creative Minds.” Subscribe to the magazine.