Chris Levine

Chris Levine is a Canadian artist best known for his multimedia pieces which incorporate light installations, photography, music, and fashion. In one his most famous works Lightness of Being (2004), Levine captures a spiritual portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, who appears to be emanating light while in a meditative trance. To produce this work the artist employed a high-resolution digital camera, which moved on a 360 degree track around the sitter, shooting 200 images within seconds. “Light is intrinsic to the way we perceive reality and by working with it, particularly with laser as a very pure form of light, I do get the sense of tuning into a deeper realm of awareness,” he has mused. “It’s innate within us but somehow the circuits need firing up and it’s to do with energy and flow.” Born in 1960 in Ontario, Canada, he went on to study at the Chelsea School of Art in London. Engaged in many fields, Levine has collaborated with a number of musicians, including Grace Jones and Massive Attack. Along with his notable portrait of the Queen, he has also captured iconic images of Kate Moss and the Dalai Lama. The artist currently lives and works in Northamptonshire, United Kingdom.