Artist Gisela Colón is currently the subject of a major retrospective at the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico (MAC), showcasing her signature "monoliths" and iridescent obelisks. These monumental sculptures, which have appeared in global locations ranging from the Great Pyramids of Giza to the Saudi Arabian desert, utilize advanced aerospace carbon fiber and site-specific minerals to create shifting, phenomenological experiences. The exhibition tracks her evolution from 1996 to the present, highlighting her unique ability to blend high-tech materials with ancient totemic forms.
Colón’s work represents a significant evolution of the Light and Space movement, moving beyond pure abstraction to engage with the complexities of the Anthropocene and the "Military Industrial Complex." By incorporating materials like hematite and organic matter, she bridges the gap between the domestic and the cosmic while challenging the art world's historical bias against "prettiness." Her practice is notable for its refusal to separate sublime beauty from the historical and environmental contexts of the materials she employs.