Crystal Paintings

Ferreira grows synthetic crystals on glass slides, which she then encases in custom-made aluminum lightboxes. Each unique crystal “painting” has a polarizing filter placed behind the glass slide. The visible crystals mounted on the walls have a second polarizing filter in front of the crystals.

To unveil the hidden crystals on the tabletops, you’ll use a hand-held polarizing filter. A prismatic phenomenon reveals itself once the polarized light emanating from the lightbox passes through the crystals and the hand-held filter. This alters the amount of light permeating the crystals, which in turn alters their reflected color. Rotate the lens and watch as the designs gyrate and the crystals appear to dance.