Mike Heule
My work explores the interplay of color, light, reflection, and transparency—and how these elements can transform a flat surface into an experience of depth and movement.
After nearly three decades practicing architecture, I find myself drawn to many of the same principles that shaped my approach to design: geometry, proportion, materials, and the way light influences our perception of space. But art offers a different kind of freedom—an opportunity to experiment without the practical constraints of architecture and to embrace discovery and the unexpected.
My recent work focuses on layering transparent, colored epoxy resins over mirrors and other reflective surfaces, often incorporating glass, metallic and iridescent films. These materials interact in ways that are both intentional and unpredictable. Colors overlap to create new hues, reflections introduce unexpected dimensions, and changing light brings a sense of movement to otherwise static compositions.
I am particularly interested in the relationship between what is physically present and what is perceived. A mirror becomes more than a reflective surface; it creates an illusion of space beyond the artwork itself. As viewers move, the work changes with them, revealing different colors, patterns, and depths. In this way, the viewer becomes an active participant in the experience.
While my compositions often begin with a sense of order and structure, the materials introduce their own complexity and spontaneity. I enjoy that tension between control and experimentation.
Ultimately, my work is less about representing something recognizable and more about creating a visual experience—one that invites curiosity, rewards closer observation, and reveals something new with each encounter.
