About me
Kevin Combs (Combsy)
San Jose, CA | Lightwork@combsy.io
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/combsy/
Artist Statement
What is life without light? Light gives us warmth, reveals form, and creates shadow. My work explores perception through the manipulation of light using liquids, oils, dyes, and other translucent materials. As these elements interact, they produce shifting, refracted landscapes that exist only for a moment before transforming into something new.
Through projection and photography, I capture and preserve these fleeting intersections of light and matter. By slowing down and reframing these ephemeral phenomena, I invite viewers to reconsider their relationship with illumination, shadow, and the constantly changing nature of perception.
Artist Bio
Kevin Combs (Combsy) is a visual artist based in San Jose, California, whose work transforms light, liquid, and projection into dynamic, immersive experiences. Drawing from a background in stage lighting, radio, and live music production, he creates pieces that blur the boundaries between technology, performance, and visual art.
Years spent producing live events shaped his understanding of light as both a technical tool and an artistic medium. A donated overhead projector later became the catalyst for his current practice, inspiring an ongoing exploration of fluid motion, analog projection techniques, and the unpredictable interactions between light and matter.
His multidisciplinary work spans live projection performances, photography, and collectible physical artworks. Through both ephemeral installations and permanent pieces, Combsy investigates transformation, perception, and the beauty of impermanence. Beyond his own practice, he regularly leads workshops and collaborates with arts organizations to share projection art techniques and foster creative exploration within the community.
Selected Exhibitions
2026 — Stem Zone, Santa Clara Convention Center, Santa Clara, CA
2026 — 8th Anniversary Exhibition, Chopsticks Alley Art, San Jose, CA
2026 — Tech at Nite, The Tech Interactive, San Jose, CA
2026 — Foto Express, Empire 7 Studios, San Jose, CA
2025 — Maker Faire, Mare Island, Vallejo, CA — Award Winner (Makers Choice)
2025 — Pancakes & Booze, Public Works, San Francisco, CA
2025 — Vanishing World, Online Exhibition
2019, 2022, 2023, 2024 — Airpusher, Burning Man, Black Rock City, NV
Technical Expertise
Live projection art, overhead/projector-based installations
Lighting design and installations
Audio production, DJing, event MCing
Projector Mapping
Film & Digital Photography
Workshop instruction and community arts facilitation
Oil+Light
Liquid, Light, and Lenses
Discover the mesmerizing world of light-based art in a hands-on workshop led by Combsy. All materials are provided, including overhead projectors, light tables, oils, and dyes. You’ll peek into Combsy’s creative process, then dive in yourself—experimenting with liquid and light, mixing your own vibrant combinations, and capturing one-of-a-kind photos of your work. No experience required—just curiosity and a sense of play.
What you’ll do:
- Learn the basics of liquid light projection
- Create your own compositions with oils and dyes
- Photograph your custom artwork to take home
What’s included:
All materials; projectors, light tables, oils, and dyes
Reflections + Refractions
Prisms, Projections, and Play
Immerse yourself into a playful studio of light. We provide prisms, mirrors, and filters to explore how light bends, splits, and dances.
What you’ll do:
- Learn the basics of reflection and refraction
- Experiment with prisms, mirrors, and filters
- Create dynamic light compositions
- Photograph your results
What’s included:
All materials; prisms, mirrors, filters, and crystal plates. ✨