Color & Light
Color and light shape how we see and interpret the world around us. They influence our moods, direct our attention, and shift our sense of space and time. Light reveals form and texture, while color adds emotional depth and meaning—together, they can transform even the most familiar subjects into something new.
Maggie West is a multidisciplinary artist known for her vibrant use of color, bold lighting, and immersive installations. Her work merges photography, large-scale public art, and visual storytelling, establishing her as a standout voice in both fine art and commercial spaces. This year, she will debut a new installation for the Charlotte International Arts Festival and its visitors.
Charlotte International Arts Festival
Passage is a large-scale floral archway created for the Charlotte International Arts Festival. Covered in West’s vibrant floral photography, the structure invites visitors into a portal of color and nature. The arch amplifies the detail and richness of each botanical image, creating an atmosphere that feels both dreamlike and grounded in the natural world. As festival-goers pass through Passage, they step into a space where art and environment converge—offering a moment of reflection, beauty, and visual storytelling.
The construction of Passage combines durability with visual impact. The archway will be built on a steel moon gate frame, providing a strong, architectural base for the installation. Each floral panel will be constructed from custom-cut wood and overlaid with high-resolution vinyl prints of West’s original botanical photographs. This method—previously used in her large-scale installation at Coachella—allows for vibrant, weather-resistant imagery that holds its form in an outdoor setting. The result is a striking blend of structural integrity and vivid, immersive color.
Scale & Sustainability
Passage will stand approximately 12 feet tall and 14.5 feet wide, offering an impactful yet approachable scale for festival-goers. While more modest in size compared to some of West’s previous large-scale installations, this version is thoughtfully designed to suit the needs and budget of the Charlotte International Arts Festival.
The scale allows for quicker on-site installation and more efficient storage between events. Its dimensions also make it an ideal portrait backdrop, perfectly sized to frame individuals or small groups. This balance of size and accessibility encourages visitors to engage directly with the piece, making it both a striking visual landmark and an interactive photo moment.
Passage is also designed with sustainability and reusability in mind. The steel frame and wooden structure are built to withstand multiple installations, allowing the piece to travel and be reassembled for future exhibitions. While some sections of the vinyl may need to be recovered over time due to weathering or wear, this maintenance is minimal compared to the environmental cost of installations built for single-use events. By prioritizing durability and modular design, Passage offers a more sustainable approach to large-scale public art—balancing visual impact with long-term resource efficiency.
Day to Night
After dark, Passage transforms from a striking photographic installation into a mesmerizing light experience through the use of projection mapping. Dynamic animations sweep across the floral imagery, highlighting the textures, colors, and forms of each plant in unexpected ways. This interplay of movement and light adds depth and dimension to the printed photos, turning the archway into an evolving visual environment that shifts throughout the evening.
Unlike traditional projection shows that rely on blank white surfaces, Passage uses projection mapping to enhance already vibrant imagery. The result is a layered, immersive experience that captivates viewers both day and night—offering moments of still beauty in daylight and a surreal, illuminated spectacle after sunset.
At this intimate scale, projection mapping can do more than animate the artwork—it can also cast beautifully coordinated lighting effects onto visitors as they pass through Passage. This dual function enhances the experience by not only transforming the arch itself but also subtly illuminating the subjects within it, creating vivid, immersive photo moments. Designed specifically for the Charlotte International Arts Festival, Passage invites festival-goers to interact with the piece, encouraging them to document and share their experience—making it a magnetic centerpiece for both visual engagement and social storytelling.
