Los Angeles based artist Maggie West uses innovative projection mapping techniques to transform her colorful photo installations into immersive experiences that shift seamlessly from day to night. By layering animated light and motion over her photographic works, West reimagines daytime visuals as dynamic nighttime environments, creating installations that evolve with the rhythm of an event.
In her studio, West created cutouts from photographs of lilies, a quartz crystal cluster, and a butterfly to explore how different subjects respond to this technique. Each piece became a canvas for projection mapping, with animated light and color transforming the still images into living, dynamic forms. By experimenting across varied natural motifs, West demonstrated how projection can enhance the texture, depth, and atmosphere of photographic installations in entirely new ways.
This approach was fully realized in West’s large-scale installation Eden at Coachella 2023. Working with the festival’s art team, she created one of the world’s largest 3D color photography installations, built from massive steel and vinyl structures printed with her botanical images. By day, Eden surrounded festivalgoers with vibrant floral photography in shifting warm and cool tones. After dark, projection mapping transformed the piece into an ethereal light show, with animations inspired by natural phenomena like fireflies, lightning, and bioluminescent plankton. The result was an installation that evolved with the festival itself, equally captivating in daylight and at night.
This technique offers a powerful way to ensure installations remain visually striking in any setting, from daylight to after dark. By combining bold photographic imagery with dynamic projection mapping, West creates works that captivate audiences around the clock. Adaptable to a wide variety of contexts including festivals, public art installations, brand activations, and private events, this approach allows a single installation to transform with its environment and deliver an unforgettable experience for every audience.
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Maggie@maggiewest.co
phil.quist@caa.com