The world of neon art: Anime, graffiti and cyberpunk LED pictures

Immerse yourself in the world of neon art and discover abstract artworks, sculptures and wall art brought to life neon and LED

Artists from all over the country and beyond are embracing this fascinating design trend, which creates a unique atmosphere in every room.

Let yourself be inspired by the beauty and creativity of neon art and discover the endless possibilities of this exciting material.

What is neon art?

Neon art is an art form that focuses on the use of neon lights as a central element. These materials are used by artists to create abstract and sculptural artworks that bathe the room in vibrant colors.

Most neon artworks are made from glass tubes filled with gases that are illuminated by applying an electric current. However, other materials such as LED lights can also be used for neon artworks.

The price for these works can range from a few hundred to several thousand euros, depending on the size of the sculpture or wall art. Many artists specialize in neon art and offer their work online or in galleries.

If you are interested in this type of art, you should explore some of the well-known artists and find out which style suits you best.

First beginnings in the early 20th century

Since the early 20th century, neon has attracted considerable attention from both artists and the public. Vapor tubes were already being manufactured in the 1910s and have been shaped and used for advertising purposes since the 1930s.

Over time, the medium has developed into a truly iconic status. No other art form possesses the unique ability of neon to create a specific mood, convey messages, and give new dimensions to ideas.

It is therefore not surprising that some artists have dedicated their entire careers to this fascinating material.

This art form requires not only craftsmanship, but also a specific vision and artistic skill to continually push the boundaries of this fragile medium.

Breakthrough in the wild 60s

It would have been highly unlikely if artists hadn't experimented with neon during the 1960s, when they were turning away from traditional media. Neon had already achieved an ambivalence between physical glass flow and immaterial light source and had firmly penetrated everyday aesthetics – from simple product advertising to luxurious Hollywood seduction.

Although neon is closely associated with pop art and is part of popular culture, its sparse technical functionality and the use of transformers also attract artists who want to create radiance “poor materials”

An exhibition in the 1980s at the Ricke Gallery (Cologne) focused on three artists of a certain generation who experimented with neon at an early stage: Bruce Nauman (born 1941 Fort Wayne/Indiana), Richard Serra (born 1939 San Francisco) and Keith Sonnier (born 1941 Manou/Louisiana).

Nauman, who celebrated his 80th birthday two years ago, first discovered neon in 1965, and since 1966/67 all three artists worked with this color and light material for a few years before they drifted apart – but not too far.

Only Sonnier repeatedly returned to neon, as demonstrated by a parallel exhibition at Rolf Ricke's gallery in 1987/1988. Ricke was a pioneer in Europe for these three Americans at the time, much like Harald Szeeman , who integrated their works into his groundbreaking exhibition "When Attitudes Become Form" (see KUNSTFORUM International ).

A selection of artists who have significantly shaped neon art

One of the best ways to immerse yourself in the world of neon art is by viewing artworks by renowned artists in this genre.

There are many talented artists around the world who create stunning neon-colored works. From abstract wall art to luminous sculptures and neon installations, there is a wide variety of styles and materials—including LEDs, plexiglass, or even wood—from which these artworks can be made.

Some artists specialize exclusively in neon artwork or neon sculptures and have developed incredible skills to create these unique works. Others use it as part of their general design practice or combine it with other creative techniques such as graffiti.

When talking about neon art, in addition to the three pioneers mentioned above, there are a number of artists who have distinguished themselves in this genre.

Dan Flavin – The Neon Art Icon

Dan Flavin , who lived and worked from 1933 to 1996, began his artistic career with abstract expressionist drawings and paintings. However, his works soon evolved into sculptural objects that incorporated everyday found objects.

During his time as a postal worker at the Guggenheim Museum around 1961, he befriended the artists Sol LeWitt and Robert Ryman . They supported his project of incorporating electric light into his sculptures. This original concept eventually became the basis for Flavin's groundbreaking "Icons" series of sculptures.

For the first time, he used fluorescent tubes, marking the beginning of a lifelong career of experimenting with light, space, and color. His work was significantly shaped by these iconic minimalist light installations, which consisted of industrially manufactured fluorescent tubes in various colors.

Through his work with neon light, he succeeded in establishing the medium as a valid tool within the visual arts. Over the course of his career, he realized increasingly ambitious site-specific installations.

With his innovative use of fluorescent light, Dan Flavin is considered the father of neon art as we know it; an inspiration for influential artists such as Robert Irwin and James Turrell.

Joseph Kosuth

Joseph Kosuth (born 1945), one of the pioneers of Conceptualism, explored the pinnacle of this new artistic movement using neon art. With intellectual works like “Four Colors, Four Words,” he clearly and literally expressed what the public saw.

In this way, Kosuth presented two simultaneous but distinct realities of color and language, neither more real than the other. This work, created in 1966 during his studies at the School of Visual Arts in New York City, explored the integration of the literal into the artistic process and its outcome.

It contributed to the emergence of the conceptual art movement and paved the way for other artists to explore art, color, and language by emphasizing art as an idea rather than an object devoid of emotional elements. Its ingenious visual summaries of complex semiotic and semantic themes would be considered among the most influential works of the era.

Chryssa

Chryssa (1933–2014) was a pioneer in transforming neon from an advertising medium into art. She used neon art as an interface between lighting, text, and color. During her childhood amidst the Nazi occupation of Greece, Chryssa was deeply influenced by the fragmentary writing style of the underground resistance.

Her seminal work “Times Square Sky” showcased her fascination with literary symbolism and consisted of a mixture of cursive, scribbled texts in bright blue neon light. She continued this theme in her architectural work “The Gates to Times Square” —a massive square structure of steel and neon featuring a large letter “A” that invited visitors to explore.

Her Ampersand series embodied her desire to layer and fragment texts – a symbol of her entire body of work and legacy.

Tracey Emin – the neon trash artist

Tracey Emin , a British artist, uses a variety of creative forms of expression such as painting, installations and sculpture, as well as the use of neon light.

As part of the Young British Artists (YBA) , a group of artists from the 1980s, she masters the art of provocation and shock as skillfully as her colleagues. Her works often reflect a cynical disillusionment – ​​a depiction of our postmodern world in which established norms are crumbling.

Through her neon art, Emin deliberately plays with stereotypical texts and skillfully reshapes the light to resemble spontaneous handwriting. The messages in these works are full of both love and obscene language, and sometimes even ironic and mocking.

Gyula Košice – inventor of neon art

Gyula Košice was the first artist to use fluorescent neon tubes in his works in 1946. The Argentinian artist, born in 1924, is a pioneer of so-called light art: a form of art that uses light as its primary material.

He also made a significant contribution to the development of optical art and kinetic art, two movements based on the movement of the gaze and the object being viewed.

Leila Pazooki – Political Neon

Leila Pazooki is an Iranian artist whose creative works address and question role of women in the Arab world and in Islam

Nevertheless, they also reflect the injustices of these societies, yet always retain a positive character. She uses various media such as paintings, sculptures, photographs, or installations, as well as neon lights for short texts or word combinations to support her message.

Mario Merz

Mario Merz (1925–2003) was an artist best known for his association with the important art group and movement Arte Povera, as well as for his distinctive igloo installations. His igloos were constructed from a metal frame and decorated with various materials such as clay, wax, glass, burlap, mud, and neon light sets.

This series began in 1968 and continued for many years. Merz was greatly fascinated by the symbolism of the igloo as a nomadic refuge and as a metaphorical space for the artist. He integrated neon art onto the surfaces of his structures, using it to formulate catchphrases or political slogans.

By incorporating these texts into his work, he literally and symbolically imbued them with energy – by permanently immersing them in neon light. In doing so, he became the first Italian artist to experiment with this medium.

He attempted to link these statements with reflections on the human need for interaction and our relationship with nature.

Tim Noble and Sue Webster

The British artist couple Timothy “Tim” Noble (born 1966) and Susan “Sue” Webster (born 1967) are best defined by their characteristic works “Light Works” and “Shadow Works” .

The “Shadow Works” are sculptural assemblages of scrap and found objects that are illuminated to create a deliberately crafted shadow in a desired shape. In contrast, her “Light Works” consist of computer-controlled neon artworks that blink in a chaotic, overwhelming, and contradictory manner.

Her work The Sweet Smell of Excess symbols of pop culture with an ironic, punkish awareness ; it represents the familiar iconography of shop signage and carnival culture in British coastal towns.

By merging inferior art media and this form into a work of art, they question the very value of the artistic work itself – thereby challenging the audience to look at this sculptural “anti-art” and to reflect on the nature of resistance.

Glenn Ligon – Cracks in American Society

Glenn Ligon (1960-) explored American history, culture, and society from a conceptual art perspective in his ambitious body of work. He is best known for his text-based works, which he created from the late 1980s onward.

One of his most famous artworks is Double America from 2006. It is a neon artwork consisting of an upright and an upside-down “America” .

The work prompts reflection on the state of the country and its significance for each individual. In many versions of this work, the neon tubes are painted black. This makes the light appear to penetrate only through the abrasions and cracks in the dark paint – clearly symbolizing fractures within American society.

Although partisan politics has always been a part of American reality, this work gains even more weight and significance today than when it was published over a decade ago. The divisions and inequalities within the country's political, economic, and social systems have widened and are apparently more apparent than ever before.

James Turrell – Sculptor of Light

James Turrell , an American artist, uses light and space as the main elements of his artwork. Much like other artists use brushes and paints, he utilizes parchment paper, neon lights, halogen lamps, and even the sun.

Of particular importance is the use of neon in his works. Neon light is sharp and fluorescent – ​​a stark contrast to the diffuse and soft light around him.

It creates spaces with strong contrasts. When viewing one of his artworks, the viewer is overcome by a strange sensation: one feels literally permeated by the light – with neon often playing a significant role.

Martial Raysse – The Neon Pop Artist

Martial Raysse , a French artist with connections to the American Pop Art movement and French New Realism, is primarily known as a painter. His works generally deal with icons of our society such as female beauty, art history , and hobbies .

He gives them a striking and vibrant touch. To express his creative visions, Raysse uses a wide variety of materials such as plastics, plexiglass, mirrors, and photographs. However, the neon lights in some of his most famous works are particularly distinctive.

In one portrait, they even become a small advertising logo in the middle of the painting – an impressive appearance in an almost provocative way.

Robert Montgomery – The Neon Poet

Robert Montgomery , an artist from Great Britain, has developed a unique way of writing – he composes short poems using light. Sometimes he even uses fire to create “fire poems”

But above all, he is known as a neon artist. Using this flexible and adaptable material, he presents his messages in public spaces. The texts are slightly melancholic, sometimes ecologically themed, and always have a somewhat philosophical touch.

It often surprises viewers to discover these works on the edge of a beach or in the heart of a city. In the darkness, they come to life, creating a new space for contemplation and reflection through the art of neon light.

Anime as part of neon art

Simply put, anime Japanese animation. The origins of Japanese animation date back to the early 20th century, when the very first animated films appeared. Anime typically works in conjunction with manga (Japanese comics) and brings the stories to life through animated television series.

The attitude of the (Western) public towards anime has gradually changed as Japanese anime and East Asian anime in general have expanded their influence on major cinemas around the world in recent years.

Regardless of how much professionals and art lovers may abhor or admire the blending of anime art and contemporary Western art, anime art has left its mark on the Western contemporary art world.

Neon art has also become increasingly popular in recent years and has evolved into an art form that is no longer limited to neon tubes. In fact, this type of artwork can be made from various materials, all of which share one common characteristic: luminosity .

Neon artworks can be abstract or realistic and offer a wide variety of options for artists to bring their ideas to life.

Anime as a part of neon art has also gained importance recently. Artists use anime design techniques to create sculptures and wall art that capture and reflect neon light.

Whether you're a fan of anime or abstract art, there are certainly neon artworks and artists that deserve your attention. Overall, neon art offers a fascinating way to experiment with light and space and create unique works.

Graffiti and the symbolism of neon

Graffiti , urban art, and neon art have a natural connection. Abstract art is all about playing with colors and shapes that are brought to life in an urban space.

Neon light adds an extra dimension to the whole thing by transforming the artwork into a luminous design.

In particular, lettering, tags and messages are points of overlap between street art and neon art.

But neon signs are no longer just found as illuminated advertising in seedy neighborhoods during the dead of night. Neon art has long since found its way into the business world as an advertising medium and into private homes as a decorative element – ​​even customizable .

Here we find a range of inspiring LED lettering that decorates the walls of private homes and small business locations:

A lot has changed in recent decades, not only stylistically but also technologically. Today, artists and wall art creators utilize advanced LED technology to achieve improved lighting results with illuminated letters while using a fraction of the electricity. LED illuminated letters have since become incredibly popular with artists, art lovers, and decor enthusiasts.

Neon is also frequently associated with the dark and commercial undertones of urban landscapes.

When they venture from the street to the canvas, it seems that the two graffiti artists RISK and Mr. Brainwash, , integrate the fluorescent tubes into their paintings.

Kelly “RISK” Graval is rightly called the “Godfather of Graffiti .” Since the 1980s, RISK has had a major influence on the street art scene. He was a pioneer of the so-called “Hitting Up the Heavens” , in which he created graffiti at extreme heights by climbing highway signs and overpasses.

Graval has gained international renown by breaking down the boundaries between street art and fine art, and by extending graffiti culture to music and commerce.

World-renowned West Coast graffiti artist Kelly Graval has set a new record for the largest mural in Canada . Between August 13 and 26, 2019, RISK and his small team of four, along with a 24-person on-site crew, used three elevators, a crane, and 860 gallons of paint to transform the entire 74,000-square-meter Old St. Joseph's Hospital into a stunning work of art.

Monster Energy and the legendary RISK with his team have left the people of Sudbury, Canada, with “Old St JOOOs” , a monumental splash of color.

Thierry Guetta , better known by his pseudonym Mr. Brainwash, gained notoriety in the street art scene through his participation in Banksy's documentary "Exit Through the Gift Shop" .

In his work, Mr. Brainwash pop imagery and cultural iconography to create a unique fusion of graffiti and social commentary. His hype-driven reputation and penchant for the dramatic make neon the perfect medium for his ever-expanding ambitions.

In the work “Banksy Thrower (Neon)”, Mr. Brainwash adds light elements to an existing design which includes both a stencil by Banksy himself and the motif “Art for Dummies” – an unexpected weapon of social activism.

The addition of neon tubes to the word “art” emphasizes its importance within the entire street artist culture as well as among the new generation of activists.

Cyberpunk LED Images: Influences from the Sci-Fi Genre

Cyberpunk is often described as the dark film noir of science fiction genres. In contrast to the bright and pristine worlds of many other science fiction genres, the world of cyberpunk is permeated by darkness and characterized by violence and pessimism.

Cyberpunk art embraces this dark aesthetic and combines it with futuristic elements , technology, and a critical attitude towards society.

Neon lighting plays a central role in capturing the atmosphere of this dystopian world . Cyberpunk artists often depict scenarios in which humans merge with machines or virtual realities are created.

The use of neon light enhances the sense of futurism while simultaneously creating a contrast to the darkness of the surroundings. This type of artwork is not only visually impressive but also thought-provoking. It raises questions about the influence of technology on our society and about ethical dilemmas in the age of progress.

A well-known artist in this genre is Syd Mead – a visionary designer for films such as “Blade Runner” and “Tron” . His work is characterized by its detailed depiction of futuristic cities, completely illuminated by neon light.

These images have had a strong influence on other artists and continue to shape our understanding of what a cyberpunk future might look like. Particularly in the video game Cyberpunk 2077 , launched in November 2020, players can immersively experience the cyberpunk atmosphere during a nighttime stroll as a virtual player.

It is therefore no wonder that cyberpunk LED images have become an important part of neon art.

Cultural significance of neon art in today's world

Neon art has become an important part of the art scene in today's world. Its cultural significance cannot be overlooked, as it offers a unique way to bring light and color into a space.

Artists around the world use various materials such as glass, gas, and electrodes to create stunning neon artworks and sculptures. These abstract works are not only beautiful to look at but also contribute to cultural diversity.

Advantages of using LEDs in artworks with neon-colored elements

The use of LED lighting in neon art represents an exciting innovation. Traditionally, neon tubes were used to create the vibrant colors and shapes in artworks, but LED lights offer many advantages over conventional materials.

Firstly, they are more durable and energy-efficient than neon tubes. Secondly, LED lights can be integrated much more easily into abstract designs, giving artists more creative freedom in designing their works.

Furthermore, the flexible material of the LED lights artists to create sculptures and wall art

The use of LED lighting also has an impact on costs: while traditional neon artworks are often expensive (with prices of several thousand CHF or EUR), works with LED lighting are often cheaper to produce and therefore more accessible to art collectors.