Unlocking Growth Through Art with Francesca Edwards

At Nasdaq, we believe in the power of rewriting tomorrow and recognize that art is a powerful medium to conceptualize this vision. 

The Nasdaq Artist Initiative engaged creators around the world, asking artists to create submissions that represent Nasdaq and the future of technology and human advancement to introduce as permanent installations at Nasdaq headquarters in Times Square. We spoke with Francesca Edwards about her piece, “Light Painting.” 

Could you please tell us about your art piece, its name and what it represents? 

“Light Painting” is an immersive installation showcasing the mediums of painting and projection. By combining abstract painting with color-changing projections, it allows me to see the direct effect that digital light has on painted color and how changing the hues of this light can create immersive color transformations. In order to do this, my gestural paintings are photographed, digitized and then projected back onto the original canvas. This second layer depicts an animated color sequence that illuminates the painted colors, creating a sense of movement across the space. The final photograph of this installation represents dialogue that is created between the painted surface and the color illumination. 

What themes do you explore through your artwork overall? 

The theme of partnership is a strong thread throughout my work. This is why the Nasdaq message ‘partnership can unlock growth’ resonated with me. Partnering two very different mediums (painting and projection) unlocked a massive growth in my practice, enabling me to reach further abstracted limits and see the potential that colors have for interaction when these two mediums are combined. 

 How do your experiences help shape the themes you choose to portray?

I’ve always been very interested in how the digital world comes into play with the physical world, especially when it comes to colors and movement. My experience growing up seeing the digital world evolves made me want to include some sort of digital aspect in my work, leading to these pieces. I also found that virtually studying when completing the last months of my fine art degree saw an even greater shift into the digital realm of art.  

Why did you choose these colors and mediums to present your piece?

During the painting process, I wanted to use a wide variety of colors; however, it was important to keep them fairly light to ensure a brighter projected image. I used my knowledge of color theory to calculate the shades of each color I wanted and where it would be placed on the canvas to further emphasize the harmonies and contrasting colors. The painted canvas can look impressive on its own; however, adding the projected element really pushes the saturation of each color and adds a striking layer of interaction between the physical colors and digital colors. As the wide-span projection bleeds off the canvas, it fills the space with immersive color interactions. My aim is for the viewer to feel completely submerged in color. 

What does it mean to have your artwork in times square?

I am so beyond grateful to have my work displayed in Times Square. Due to the pandemic, there haven’t been many opportunities to exhibit my graduate work, so having it showcased in New York is amazing. I am so excited to see the photos of my work in situ; I feel like it will really be a pinch-me moment in my career. This opportunity will also be a great and noteworthy addition to my artist CV, as well as being able to discuss it in future job interviews and client meetings. 

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.