[2] Wilfred worked towards establishing lumia as a new form of art, but the medium has yet to achieve popular recognition.
Thomas Wilfred (1889–1968) was the first artist in the United States to use light as the sole means of expression for his artwork.
In 1921, Wilfred created his first portable clavilux, a machine that allowed for the creation and performance of lumia.
In the early 1930s, he shifted from accompanying musical performances to using the light organ in galleries and painting exhibitions.
The three main elements of lumia, defined by Wilfred, are form, color, and motion in a dark space.
"[1] A term also coined by Thomas Wilfred to refer to his invention that allowed the creation and performance of lumia.
Artists recognized for their use of light include James Turrell, Robert Irwin, Dan Flavin, Bruce Nauman, Jenny Holzer, Leo Villareal, Mel and Dorothy Tanner, and George Stadnick.