Olivia Steele

Olivia Steele, born in Nashville in 1985, is a celebrated contemporary light and conceptual artist known for her powerful word‑based neon installations. Drawing on her childhood—her mother a country‑music singer and interior designer, her father a philosopher—Steele developed a fascination with language, light, and illumination. Her work fuses hand‑bent neon glass with poetic truisms, aiming to provoke contemplation on themes like consciousness, faith, hope, and introspection.

Trained as a lighting designer and skilled in glass bending, Steele installs her works with meticulous precision. She emphasizes that her art “is not about what I see… it’s about what I invite you to see”. Through her bright symbology and "punctuated truths," she brings ancient wisdom and modern storytelling into conversation, crafting transformative visual experiences with universal emotional resonance.

Living between Berlin, Mexico City, and London, Steele has exhibited globally—from Burning Man’s desert landscape to urban interventions in Berlin, Mumbai, Beirut, and Tulum.

In addition to large‑scale neon interventions, Steele has ventured into jewelry and wearable accessories, stamping empowering mantras onto silver and brass. Her multidisciplinary practice reflects her mission: to blur cultural boundaries, uplift consciousness, and plant brief reminders of self‑reflection and communal connection in public and personal spaces alike.