Nelson Saiers is redefining what it means to be a multidisciplinary creator in the 21st century. A former hedge fund manager with a Ph.D. in mathematics, Saiers has turned his talents to the art world, where his works seamlessly blend intellectual rigor with cultural and social commentary. His upcoming exhibition at The Canvas 3.0 in New York City, running from January 9 to January 23, 2025, offers a unique opportunity to explore how art can transcend traditional boundaries and spark meaningful connections.

The Canvas 3.0, renowned for its blend of physical and digital experiences, provides the perfect platform for Saiers’ multidisciplinary approach. The gallery’s collaborations with cultural leaders like Rolling Stone and Meta align with Saiers’ ethos of exploring the intersections of art, technology, and culture.

Saiers’ background as a mathematician and financier informs his approach to art, bringing unparalleled rigor and depth to his creative process. His works transform abstract mathematical concepts into metaphors that resonate across disciplines, bridging the worlds of academia, pop culture, and social critique.

The exhibition features 15 pieces created over the past four years, each embodying Saiers’ intellectual curiosity and artistic innovation. From medieval history to Donald Judd’s minimalist sculptures and even the chaos of Game of Thrones, Saiers’ art reflects a unique ability to blend abstract thought with tangible narratives. His mathematical expertise adds a layer of precision to his visual storytelling, elevating the medium to new intellectual heights.

Saiers’ art explores the boundaries between representational and non-representational art, weaving historical and conceptual threads into his work. In Stack, he reflects on Wassily Kandinsky’s inspiration for one of the first abstract paintings—an epiphany sparked by initially failing to recognize the subject in one of Claude Monet’s late haystack paintings. Decades later, Donald Judd revisited the concept with his "Stacks," a series of minimalist works featuring boxes presented as objects to be viewed in their own right, detached from any external reference.

Saiers merges these artistic dialogues with mathematics, introducing symbols that evoke the concept of a mathematical stack. “The boxes in my installation are arranged similarly to Judd’s installation; the difference is I have filled my boxes with hay,” Saiers explains. “In doing so, I’ve punningly created a ‘haystack.’” By filling Judd’s nonrepresentational boxes with hay, Saiers transforms them into a multifaceted referent, connecting both Judd’s minimalist vision and Monet’s impressionistic haystacks in a single, layered piece. Saiers then blurs the lines further between representation and the abstract by adding esoteric symbols that point to a mathematical "stack" (roughly speaking a type of sheaf) on the wall next to the blue boxes.

In this way, Saiers’ art challenges viewers to find connections between diverse fields, echoing the spirit of Renaissance thinkers who believed in the unity of knowledge. His work invites audiences to explore the analogies between ideas, bridging gaps between mathematics, history, and pop culture in inspiring and provoking ways.

Nelson Saiers’ exhibition at The Canvas 3.0 is more than a collection of art; it is a celebration of the interconnectedness of human creativity. His work offers a rich tapestry of insights and inspiration for those drawn to the intersection of disciplines. Mark your calendar for January 9—23, 2025, and prepare to engage with a modern Renaissance mind at work.

Tearsheets by Robin Chou, Graphic Design Intern, PhotoBook Magazine

Bridging Math Art and Culture Nelson Saiers Exhibition at the Canvas 3.0