Scott Young’s creative path has always glowed a little brighter. Raised in an art-filled household of five kids—all of whom landed in creative careers—Young’s passion for art and adventure took him from Colorado to Los Angeles, where he spent nearly a decade creating neon for Hollywood movies like Batman Forever. Now back in Denver, Young is creating pieces that light up the Denver skyline. You might recognize his signature piece “Wish You Were Here” glowing above The Ramble Hotel or flashing from the glass façade of David Adjaye’s LN House near the Museum of Contemporary Art. And if you look closely, you’ll notice that sometimes it flickers to “Wish You Were Her”—a trick Young built using a flicker-generating component he originally designed for Hollywood. His luminous creations are bold, poetic, and emotionally raw—turning heartbreak and longing into radiant works of public and private art. We caught up with Young at his studio to talk about the magic of neon, emotional storytelling, and his latest projects that keep Denver glowing.
Bright beginnings: “While attending the Colorado Institute of Art, I wandered into a neon shop and convinced the owner to teach me the craft of neon. That was 1986. I have been creating neon since.”
The glow up: “Working with neon offers the convergence of art, craftsmanship, and science. The golden triad in my mind. Out of this comes a final piece that glows with life and transforms a space—and with luck, the viewer as well.”
Art therapy: “My work has always been based on human connection and relationship. Experiences and growth fuel my emotional themes. I use the art as a type of therapy to internally process, then outwardly discuss emotional chaos. It is a joy and a curse to lay it all out in glowing, in-your-face neon work screaming of heartbreak and longing. I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
Lit up: “Paralleling humans, neon itself glows with life. It has a life within created through an electrical current, which, somewhat unexplainably, illuminates in a warm, magical way, mimicking one’s soul. And much like humans, an ever-present fragility exists. Once neon breaks and the gas escapes, its life is lost. This metaphor combines to create emotionally driven, layered work. Work discussing relationship, love, passion, dualities all present themselves in a meaningful, thought-provoking way, glowing from the inside and engaging the viewer on a visceral level.”
Fools’ gold: “The Fool opened on April Fool’s Day and consisted of work developed through AI technology, then digitally printed on canvas and presented as fine art paintings on easels. The pieces opened a discussion of art appropriation, process, and why some artists utilize AI to assist in the ‘heavy lifting’ of actual creation. The work is an underlying discussion of the foolishness of AI and its use in the making of fine art.”
Restoration hardware: “I am currently working with Brennen Bryarly and the team at CoClubs to bring the Jonas Bros Furs sign back to life at 1037 Broadway. The building and its rooftop sign were constructed in 1923. The sign is the oldest surviving illuminated sign in Colorado. I am also working on A Momentary Lapse of Judgment, a mid-career retrospective. This exhibition will include new work, past work, and installations that have resonated with me. There will be an accompanying book with sketchbook images and the inspiration behind the work.”
