See Iowa’s largest public art display in Davenport, Iowa!
As part of their 100th anniversary, the Figge Art Museum has unveiled the largest public art display in Iowa. It’s called Evanescent Field, and it uses over 1000 LED lights to produce random light patterns that illuminate the entire glass exterior of the Figge Art Museum in Davenport, Iowa.
When and where can we see it?
Evanescent Field can be seen during the evenings at the Figge Art Museum is located at 225 West 2nd Street in Davenport. It can seen most evenings after sunset. It does dim between 2am and sunrise. In addition, there are some black out dates due to bird migrations or other events.
Is it permanent, or does it only run for a limited time?
It is a permanent exhibit and will run almost every night from sunset to sunrise.
Who designed it?
It was created by Leo Villareal, a New York-based artist who is known great work, including the lighting of the Bay Bridge in San Francisco and the Illuminated River project featuring nine bridges in London, England. Leo and his team have been working on the details of Evanescent Field for several years, and they were on hand during the unveiling in May of 2025.
Are there patterns that repeat? And how often do they repeat?
No – there are no repeating patterns. That’s what makes the art installation so unique. Evanescent Field was created by Leo’s team using custom generative code that creates unique patterns that will never repeat. You’ll never see the same design or pattern repeat.
How are the lights protected from the weather?
Yes, they are protected from the weather as the exterior of the Figge Art Museum has two layers of glass. It’s within this “catwalk” between the glass layers where the LED lights are mounted. Of course, there will still be maintenance issues over time, but the lights are not fully exposed.
How long was the project in the works?
Illuminating the building was always part of the plan. The building’s designer, Sir David Chipperfield, had originally envisioned lighting the exterior of the building. Talks with Leo Villareal started as long as ten years ago, although the majority of the work was done within the last three years, once funding was approved.
How was the project funded?
Evanescent Field was a $4 million project funded primarily by a grant from Iowa Economic Development, but also from private donors.
Where is the Figge Art Museum located?
Figge Art Museum is located at 225 West 2nd Street in Davenport. Visit the museum online at https://figgeartmuseum.org/.
