How Colin Roberts Plays with Light Through Plexiglass
Colin Roberts’ uniquely imagined kaleidoscopic solid plexiglass structures represent the contrasting illusion of soft, plush organic shapes. The ways in which Roberts is able to manipulate this medium to play with light is yet another surrealist quality in which he uses to symbolize the environment of our dreams.
Tell us a little about you!
“I'm originally from Fullerton, a small town in Orange County, California. I'm currently based in Los Angeles. I guess I got my start in a high chair at age 2 when my godmother would put pencils in my hand. I stayed busy scribbling for hours. Eventually that turned into drawing, art lessons and then painting murals on any walls I could find. That led me to Otis Art College in Los Angeles. I attended four years there and graduated in 2001. From there I began freelancing in different creative industries in Hollywood as well as assisting fine artists.
I also started my own practice when I graduated. Working with various types of creatives and designers on projects, I learned different techniques and materials to experiment with and create my own ideas in the studio.”
What inspired you to start working more with this medium?
“In 2006 I was working for a real estate investor drawing his concepts for their buildings. I was studying glass buildings for the drawings and I began to want to create my own structureless organic architectural sculptures that resembled those glass buildings. I didn't know much about how to do this starting out. I asked a lot of questions and experimented with a lot of materials. I discovered that plexiglass allowed me to create what I wanted where glass would not. The first piece I made in plexiglass was a 3 foot tall Toe Doll; A doll made of toes. I began to think about other things to sculpt and eventually landed on the Pillow idea. It's soft but made of hard material. The sags create beautiful lines and different shapes. It resembles a small being yet also a torso. It reflects but it's also transparent. It’s symbolic of comfort, sleep and dreams. From there I began to explore these concepts and others much more in plexiglass.”
How do you typically begin innovating for new concepts?
“When coming up with new concepts to make, I look at stuff through multiple filters in my head. How would the idea or inspirational object work as art, and what kind of art would that be? What is it that the work needs to make it the right balance of ideas and aesthetics that I'm interested in for this particular piece. How funny is it? How serious? What is the work talking about? How would adding new ideas/ change the work content, process and final visuals of the work?
Once those things are settled on, I think about the different options for the physical process and materials needed to make the work as there can be multiple solutions. It can start out different each time. Sometimes it starts out with drawings and goes from there to the most appropriate material for the sculpture. Depending on this, I might sculpt something in cardboard, clay, wood, or plaster. I might plaster wrap a found object. If necessary I'll make a silicone mold if necessary and go from there with cutting, gluing etc.”
What are some of your most memorable moments as an artist?
“I've been in a lot of shows and worked with some incredible architects and designers like Johnston Mark Lee and Martin Margiela that I'm eternally grateful for. However I think my most memorable moments are really in the studio. Finishing new Pillows or other sculptures are always exciting to see how they turn out. When I get into a meditative flow mindstate working on pieces is the best. Or when I finish something I've been thinking about for months or years.. I get to check it off the list in my head. This is what makes me happiest. Everything else is a bonus.”
Which kinds of projects would you like to work on in the future?
“It would be great to collaborate with architects, designers and galleries on large scale public or private projects for plexiglass, glass and bronze. It's fun figuring out solutions for those types of projects.”
What are some of your goals for 2021?
“Some of my goals for 2021 are first to get through some challenging plexiglass commissions we're currently working on in the studio. To work with more artists, architects and designers on interesting projects. Above all else, to spend alot of time in the studio concentrating on new ideas and making new work.”
