Soft Edges 1984

Ray Howlett made this sculpture called Soft Edges, and right away I’m struck by the play of light. It’s like he’s not just painting light, but building it, crafting an environment where the glow and reflection become the subject. Looking closer, I’m really seeing how Howlett uses the material to create depth. The lines recede, creating this almost infinite space within the octagonal frame. The warm oranges and yellows meeting the cool greens—there’s such a visceral push and pull. It feels like an electrical current, or maybe something more organic, like the glowing depths of a sunset. It reminds me of some of Larry Bell’s glass cube sculptures, this focus on light and space. But Howlett’s work has a warmth to it, a handmade feel, that softens the geometry. Art’s just a big conversation, right? Everyone riffing off each other, taking things in new directions.