Grimanesa Amorós


Grimanesa Amorós is a Peruvian-born American multimedia artist known for her work with light and technology. She creates large-scale sculptures that explore themes of cultural heritage, community, and the intersection of technology and art. After a trip to Iceland, her work began to incorporate lighting technology as a medium to enhance conceptual depth rather than defining it.
Amorós's installations have been exhibited internationally at venues including the Ludwig Museum in Cologne, Germany and the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Shanghai, China. Notable projects include Uros House at Times Square in New York City and Golden Waters at the Scottsdale Waterfront in Arizona.
In addition to her artistic practice, Amorós has lectured at institutions such as the NYU Stern School of Business, Brown University, and events including TEDGlobal and UBS x Art Basel in Hong Kong. Her art draws inspiration from cultural legacies, natural landscapes, and societal themes such as mental health, aiming to create immersive experiences that connect viewers, spaces, and communities.
WWW grimanesaamoros.com

Early life and career

Grimanesa Amorós was born in Lima, Peru in 1962. Her father was a civil engineer, and her mother was a creative. While Amorós often observed her mother at work, both of her parents profoundly influenced her future artistic practice.
At the age of 11, Amorós developed a fascination with maps, which her mother recognized as a sign of her creative inclinations. In response, she enrolled Amorós in painting classes, nurturing her budding artistic interests.
Amorós pursued higher education in psychology, studying full-time at university. However, she left the program three months before graduating to follow a different path.
In 1984, Amorós relocated to New York City, where she began studying at The Art Students League of New York, where she studied from 1984 to 1988.

Notable installations

Amorós’s light-based installations often explore cultural identity, urban landscapes, and the relationship between technology and the human experience. Her work frequently incorporates LED lights, diffusion materials, and programmed lighting sequences tailored to each site.
In 2011, she created Uros House as a site-specific installation for the Times Square Alliance’s Public Art Program in New York City, coinciding with The Armory Show. Inspired by the housing structures of the Uros of Lake Titicaca in Peru, the piece used light-diffusing materials and animated lighting to reflect on themes of tradition and adaptability in urban space.
Pink Lotus, unveiled in 2015, was a public art installation commissioned for The Peninsula New York as part of the hotel’s “Art of Pink” initiative supporting Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It was inspired by the lotus flower, a symbol of purity and rebirth, and supported Breast Cancer Awareness Month by placing this installation on the hotel's facade.
That same year, Golden Waters was installed above the Arizona Canal in Scottsdale, Arizona. Drawing inspiration from the irrigation systems of the Hohokam people, the piece consisted of illuminated tubing suspended above the water and was positioned near architect Paolo Soleri’s Soleri Bridge.
In 2021, she completed Golden Array, a large-scale installation commissioned by the Reliance Group for the Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai, India. Inspired by the telephone wires above the Mumbai skyline, the work explored the concept of human connectivity through expansive light structures.
In 2022, Amorós presented Amplexus at Noor Riyadh, a citywide light and art festival in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The work’s title, derived from the Latin for “embrace,” reflected on themes of connection and urban identity using reflective materials and responsive lighting patterns.
In September 2025, Amorós created two light installations for The Peninsula Istanbul. Maritime, located in the lobby of the hotel, takes inspiration from the Bosphorus and the city's maritime history. The second light installation, Passage, is located on the hotel's clock tower and is inspired by the Çinili Han, a passenger hall where travelers awaited transit. Both installations were commissioned as part of The Peninsula’s “Art in Resonance” program and were presented in conjunction with the Contemporary Istanbul art fair.
In January 2026, she created a site-specific light installation, Radiance, for the Los Angeles Philharmonic at Walt Disney Concert Hall, presented in conjunction with performances of Alexander Scriabin’s Prometheus: Poem of Fire, conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen. Later that month, Amorós partnered with the French department store Printemps to produce a large-scale installation at its New York City flagship at One Wall Street, transforming the storefront and interior spaces with her installation Perfect Timing.

Collaborations

In 2006, Amorós collaborated with Grammy-winning José Luis Pardo of Los Amigos Invisibles for the score of Reflexión Obscura. In 2010, she worked with Meshell Ndegeocello on her exhibition La Incubadora. She also partnered with fashion designer Manuel Fernandez for his Fashion Art show, creating a dress titled Precious Nipples.
In her video Rootless Algas, she worked with Hilmar Örn Hilmarsson, who composed an original score. In 2013, Amorós collaborated with Ivri Lider of The Young Professionals on the soundtrack for her video Miranda, which premiered with her light sculpture Light Between the Islands in Tel Aviv, Israel.
In 2014, she partnered with Akiko Elizabeth Maie, the latest label from Nepenthes AMERICA INC., to present Onkochishin 2014. Amorós later collaborated with Cindy Chao during the Biennale des Antiquaires at the Grand Palais in Paris, France, creating the lighting sculpture Timeless Motion .
In 2016, Amorós collaborated with Moët Hennessy for an event celebrating its Paradis Impérial cognac during Art Basel Miami Beach. She created a sculptural light installation titled Lotus, unveiled at the penthouse of The Miami Beach EDITION. The work referenced the symbolic meaning of the lotus flower and continued her exploration of light and perception.
In 2022, Amorós collaborated with actor and musician Maya Hawke on a cover story for As If Magazine, photographed by editor-in-chief Tatijana Shoan. Amorós created a light-based installation as the backdrop for the photoshoot, incorporating her signature LED forms and programmed lighting sequences.

Awards and grants