Ben Livingston

National Endowment of the Arts fellow, Ben Livingston is internationally known as a neon/light sculptor. He is the inventor of an opalescent color palette for neon, using a variety of UV sensitive phosphorescent compounds and minerals. Ben originally observed these glowing compounds in New Zealand in 1985 which ultimately led to his signature work- luminous tubes he calls 'Nightsticks' or 'Spirit Antennae'.
Livingston works in a wide range of mediums such as found objects, historical archives and artifacts, photography, wood, copper, steel, glass, drawing, painting, and video. He is also a story-teller, lecturer, blogger, singer/songwriter and performer as well as an actor in film and television. Many articles have been published regarding his artwork, neon landmarks, life, thoughts and world travel.

His current work called “Spirit Houses, Ghosts and Memory” is a site specific traveling exhibit designed to convert the static nature of any museum or art center into a spirit house made of reinterpreted materials from that community’s dynamic past combined with Spirit Antennae which responds directly to those materials.

Ben Livingston was born in Victoria, Texas in 1958 and makes his artwork and home in Austin with his family.




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