Leo Villareal is famous for his psychedelic light art.

He found his inspiration at none other than the infamous hippie festival Burning Man. Back in the '90s, he erected a strobe light to help him find his campsite. One thing led to another, and now his art is even enjoyed by non-hippies worldwide.  

Leo had always studied art, but it was that Burning Man experience that led him to pursue big, interactive light installations. As his beacon led him home, he felt like it was speaking to him, like a flashing being with its own language and character. Soon after that, he says, “What I was doing at Burning Man suddenly I started doing all year long."

Recently, Leo created the world’s largest light installation on the Bay Bridge in San Francisco. He stuck 25,000 white LEDs on the 2-mile-long bridge, and their softly flashing patterns mesmerize San Franciscans every night.

People have refused to get a sponsor for this expensive project; SF doesn’t want the lights flashing, like, the Coca-Cola logo. But if the fundraising to make this installation permanent fails to meet the $12M goal, we may have to bid the Bay Lights farewell.