August Muth
August Muth (b. 1955, Albuquerque, NM) is a pioneer in the exploration of light through the art of holography. Muth’s color field abstractions consist of geometric forms stretching beyond the bounds of the archival glass surface moving in space with the viewer.
Muth has been fascinated by light phenomena ever since he started creating prisms to refract light and explore prismatic color during his teenage years. These interests laid the foundation for the beginning of his formal studies in art and physics at the University of New Mexico in 1975, and later at the University of Houston, and the University of Texas, Austin. He continued his studies in holography at the Museum of Holography in New York (1981–1984) to pursue his interest in light as an art form.
Through the simple forms that shape his work, Muth creates an experiential voyage in color, physical space, and what he terms as material light. Tactile forms of pure color occupy physical space while colors coalesce into one another, creating a field of pure light, color and vibratory energy. These works allow for expanding the visual and physical fields of perception. Muth’s intention is to open doors to a reverence of light while exploring the innate enigma encompassing the realm of the photon.
Muth’s work has been shown worldwide including at the Albuquerque Museum, Albuquerque, NM; MIT Museum, Cambridge, MA; Vladem Contemporary Museum, Santa Fe, NM; and Aveiro City Museum, Aveiro, Portugal. His work is held in institutional collections including the New Mexico Museum of Art, Santa Fe, NM; the Butler Institute of American Art, Youngstown, OH; Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, NY; MIT Museum, Cambridge, MA; and TIA Collection, Santa Fe, NM.
Select Works
Select Exhibitions
[Upcoming] August Muth: Material Light
parrasch heijnen, Los Angeles, CA
May 16 - June 20, 2026
Select Press
2025
Nevins, Bill. “Light Breaks Through Darkness,” Trend Magazine, Santa Fe, NM, 2025
2020
Carver, Jon. “Critical Reflections – August Muth: Holographic Images in Glass,” THE Magazine, Santa Fe, NM, July, 2020
Cross, Guy. “Universe of Artist August Muth,” THE Magazine, Santa Fe, NM, May, 2020
2016
Landi, Ann. “August Muth,” Vassari21, September, 2016
D’Antonio, Christian. “August Muth and Dora Tass,” The Way Magazine, May, 2016
2014
Procter, Christina. “Lit - August Muth Talks About Light, Holography and the Environment,” Eco Source Magazine, 2014