The lights of my life
A look into the lighting that fills my camera roll.
Lighting has quietly become one of the most expressive elements in a space. Thankfully, we’ve moved past default fluorescent overheads—but it’s no longer just about the warm-glow either. Today’s fixtures are sculptural, directional, and architectural.
Looking through my camera roll from the past year, I realized how often I’ve been drawn to them. I’ve taken more photos of light fixtures - some elaborate, some barely there - than I expected. Often not even capturing the room itself, just pointing up, documenting the way something hangs, glows, or holds space.
Lots of life goals were unlocked at Villa Necchi in Milan, here’s one: Built-in china cabinet with its own lighting.
Jorge Pardo at Petzel Gallery.
Lovely Flowerpot pendants at Potato Head in Bali.
Jacqueline Sullivan Gallery.
A little sandwich counter by Lichen in Ridgewood.
Very good lighting at Somma in Singapore, designed by Nice Projects.
At a hi-fi bar in Singapore. Not mad about these colored lights.
James Cherry at Ha’s Snack Bar.
Coffee filter lights in the Time Again back room. On Instagram stories, this received a lot of laughs for the caption: “The Dimes Square interrogation room.”
At Spencer’s. The day spa I covered, which feels like a furniture gallery.
WSA is a masterclass in the free will that every office building has to simply take out the fluorescent lighting and replace it with a warm glow.
Oh, and don’t even get me started on the Chloe Wise shrimp chandelier by one of their elevator banks which has been used as a landmark the same way someone might suggest, “When you get to the stop sign shrimp chandelier turn left.”
The Vermont Country Store.
Casa Barragan, CDMX.
Also this Milanese cafe in CDMX.
I’ve always loved these simple reading lights at The Standard, Miami.
Faye Toogood opening at Tiwa Gallery.
The new Sunny’s in Miami. This place started as a parking lot restaurant during covid. It’s kind of over the top now and the music is weird, which makes me miss the OG parking lot, but the lighting is nice.
Honorable mention lol.