LOVE TRANSCEIVER & MATHSCAPER

Rob with Fundamental Vibration at the 2025 PDXWLF; photo by Dylan Evanston
PDXWLF alum shares his luminous vision at one of the world’s largest art competitions


Last year, the Portland Winter Light Festival welcomed artist Rob Leonard of Mathscaper for the first time with his glowing installation, Fundamental Vibration, which was shown upstairs at the World Trade Center. That piece set the stage for an even bigger leap—his acceptance into ArtPrize, one of the world’s largest international art competitions and cultural festivals, held annually in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

  • Rob with Fundamental Vibration at the 2025 PDXWLF; Photo by Amrik Kerketta
  • person taking phone photo of glowing pink and yellow art
    Fundamental Vibration by Mathscaper; Photo by Dylan Evanston
  • Fundamental Vibration by Mathscaper; Photo by Amrik Kerketta
A Prime Spot at ArtPrize

Rob’s newest piece, Love Transceiver, now shines at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, a nearly 12-foot-tall, colorful, starlike sculpture imagined through mathematics and lit from within. Out of dozens of venues, Rob was thrilled to land this prominent placement.

“I applied with this piece hoping for the Ford Museum and feel so grateful they chose me and for the prime spot on the main floor. Heart full of gratitude and love.”

  • Love Transceiver, now shines at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum
  • Love Transceiver, now shines at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum
  • Love Transceiver, now shines at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum
  • Love Transceiver, now shines at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum
The Inspiration Behind Love Transceiver

The sculpture draws inspiration from crystal lattice structures, gallium nitride semiconductors (the same crystals that enable blue light in LEDs), and wave interference patterns. What began as a quantum dream became a work of art designed to spark connection.

“I wanted to create a piece that reminds us that every cell in our bodies is set up to send and receive love. From quantum scale to everything, scaled to anything, for everyone, with love.”

  • Dan Holt (left) was instrumental in the programming of the patterns in the LEDs. Rob is on the right.
Mathscaper’s Mission

Mathscaper’s mission is to express the beauty of mathematics and science through art that inspires and connects people, whether or not they feel comfortable with math and science. By transforming complex concepts into immersive, luminous experiences, Rob hopes to reveal the wonder of patterns, geometry, and resonance in ways that feel accessible, playful, and deeply human.

Looking Ahead

We’re proud to celebrate Rob as part of the PDXWLF community and look forward to seeing where his journey takes him next. Perhaps to Reno’s Western Light Festival, or right back here to Portland next February!

Read more about Rob’s past installation, Fundamental Vibration, here: https://pdxwlf.com/experience/fundamental-vibration/

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