Phil Gleason’s sculpture is perception based. Each piece is an illusion with an optimal viewing angle or timeframe for visual magic. He works through forced perspective to reveal seemingly endless, skewed, floating, or flattened 3D objects.
Through mixed media sculpture Gleason works to suspend belief through visual tricks with magnets, light and mirrors, and other hidden optic deceptions. His interest in magic tricks, science, and puzzles since childhood are impetus for his playful, awe inspiring, and meditative works of art.
"Currently I do most of my work in two mediums, Infinity Mirrors and Magnetic Levitation. Each Levitation is a process of tuning the piece and custom balancing each carbon fiber tube. Each Infinity box is a custom built diorama meant to reflect the ultimate depth and detail with different scenes inside."
Through mixed media sculpture Gleason works to suspend belief through visual tricks with magnets, light and mirrors, and other hidden optic deceptions. His interest in magic tricks, science, and puzzles since childhood are impetus for his playful, awe inspiring, and meditative works of art.
"Currently I do most of my work in two mediums, Infinity Mirrors and Magnetic Levitation. Each Levitation is a process of tuning the piece and custom balancing each carbon fiber tube. Each Infinity box is a custom built diorama meant to reflect the ultimate depth and detail with different scenes inside."
Biography
Born in Austin, MN, in 1978, Phil Gleason lives and works in Tallahassee, FL. Phil earned his MFA in sculpture from the Florida State University in 2008 and a BFA from the University of Minnesota in 2003. He is the Studio Manager at the FSU Master Craftsman Studio and teaches Sculpture at FSU. FSU MCS is an educational Atilier where Phil is a project manager for many architectural, commercial, private and public commissions. He has worked as an effects coordinator for theaters and haunted houses, using props, gimmicks, lighting and black arts as theater magic.
His sculpture is focused on illusion using mediums such as lights and mirrors, flat perspectives, magnets and balance, rendering visual reality a farce. Reality is a frame of mind that Gleason’s sculptures aim to unhinge if only for a moment, until the audience becomes wise and the trick becomes lucid.
His sculpture is focused on illusion using mediums such as lights and mirrors, flat perspectives, magnets and balance, rendering visual reality a farce. Reality is a frame of mind that Gleason’s sculptures aim to unhinge if only for a moment, until the audience becomes wise and the trick becomes lucid.
