Artist Michael Velliquette has created a stunning new collection of 21 metallic paper sculptures that examine the profound relationship between light, perception, and consciousness. His latest solo exhibition, "The Light That Sees," is currently on display at Duane Reed Gallery in St. Louis through December 13, featuring intricate geometric compositions crafted from cut, notched, perforated, and layered pieces of metallic coated paper.
Velliquette is renowned for his mandala-like compositions that sometimes rise tower-like from their bases or appear to rotate with multiple circular layers. According to a statement for his new exhibition, he "continues to explore the subtle terrain of interiority," delving into themes of consciousness and light both in the physical sense that light enables vision and as a metaphor for awareness and enlightenment. Through these monochromatic reliefs, he highlights the complex relationships between perception, material, and humanity's connection with nature.
The artist frequently incorporates recurring motifs in his work, including eyes, stars, florets, and circles, alongside numerous other geometric shapes ranging from hole-punched triangles to countless tiny discs with scalloped edges. Some compositions function as meditations on these recurring forms, resembling mandalas where all sides maintain essential symmetry. In other pieces, more playful elements emerge, featuring flowers with faces or human profiles that appear to rotate around central orbs, creating an almost cartoonish quality within the sophisticated geometric framework.
The exhibition includes notable works such as "Dark Star" (2025), measuring 24 x 24 x 4 inches, "I Am the Sky" (2025) at 12 x 12 x 2 inches, and "The Light That Sees" (2023) at 12 x 12 x 2.5 inches. Other significant pieces include "The I in Sight" (2025), "Folded Horizon" (2024), "Shifts in Perspective" (2024), "The Distance Within Us" (2025), "Shared Dream" (2025), and "The Space of Being" (2024), each varying in dimensions but maintaining the artist's signature use of metallic coated cover stock.
According to the exhibition statement, "Through acts of repetition and precision—cutting, shaping, and assembling complex layers and shapes—Velliquette's paper sculptures serve as meditative objects that ask the viewer not just to look, but to see—to meet the work with a quiet awareness that mirrors its making." This approach transforms each piece into both a visual experience and a contemplative practice, inviting viewers to engage with the artwork on multiple levels of consciousness and perception. Interested viewers can explore more of Velliquette's work on his website and Instagram profile.
