IllumiNation

Artist: Nancy Jo Ward

(b. 1957, Dayton, OH)

Materials: LED Light Installation

Year: 2026

Rooted in the idea that white light contains every color, IllumiNation is an 8’ × 8’ installation of 21 illuminated forms whose shapes are drawn from the gestural strokes of the Latin alphabet. Custom programming animates the grid through color-theory-based transitions, while a motion sensor triggers a rippling, texting-style sequence in which five statements—dream in color, love every day, care for our souls, make art for life, create to heal—are expressed in light rather than words. Ward conceived the work around the belief that color itself serves as a universal language, crossing cultures, generations, and backgrounds. The installation invites contemplation and an experience of connectedness — a reminder that in our shared experience of light, we are part of something larger than ourselves.

Stop Categories: F-Building, Two-Dimensional Art