John david mooney biography for kids

American artist

John David Mooney is a Chicago-based, internationally recognized artist, known for his large-scale public sculptures, light pieces, and environmental installations.

Astronomy, science, and nature have played a significant role in Mooney's art, and his public sculptures often draw inspiration from the spirit of place, the importance of the site, its history, and present environment.^[1]

Biography

A Champaign native, Mooney received his MFA from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.

In 1994, Mooney was an artist-in-residence at the Vatican Observatory at Castel Gandolfo and created outdoor sculptures inspired by astronomical phenomena at the Observatory's rooftop telescopes and Vatican gardens.^[2] His 48-story light sculpture became the icon for the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games,^[3] and his Malta Millennium sculpture, commissioned by the government of Malta, ushered in 2000.^[4] Other important proje