Art on theMart

Valerio Dewalt Train, Obscura Digital and Vornado Realty have partnered to design and implement a permanent projection system that illuminates theMART building in Chicago with large-scale visual artistry on a nightly basis. This is now the largest permanent projection system in the world.

Using a software-driven platform, theMART will curate an ongoing exhibition of imagery from celebrated artists, allowing the ongoing spectacle to be fresh, timely and engaging. This one-of-a-kind project will feature 2-hour projection shows 5 nights a week, 10 months of the year for 30 years.

To cover theMART’s three acre façade facing the Chicago River, the show requires 34 projectors. Valerio Dewalt Train designed a projector room that cantilevers over the south side of the river walk, and houses all of the necessary mechanical equipment within a confined space. Elegantly clad in Zinc, the booth was intended to blend in with its surroundings by neatly hovering between the walkway and the lower edge of Upper Wacker’s balustrade.

Art on theMART was launched with a grand opening ceremony on the evening of September 29, 2018, and features original content from Obscura’s award-winning media team and curated artists.