Best Immersive Art Experience (2024) - USA TODAY 10Best Readers' Choice Awards (2024)

A feast for the senses

Best Immersive Art Experience(2024)
March 1, 2024

Advertisem*nt

Photo courtesy of AREA15

No. 10:

AREA15 - Las Vegas, Nevada

AREA15 calls itself an “immersive playground,” featuring art installations, an interactive distillery, flight simulator, immersive sound and light spaces, axe throwing, arcade games, and AR experiences. A highlight of the space is an installation from Meow Wolf known as Omega Mart.

Photo courtesy of Eric Lubrick and the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields

No. 9:

THE LUME Indianapolis - Indianapolis, Indiana

THE LUME Indianapolis at Newfields claims to be the only immersive digital experience that uses original art by world-famous artists. Original paintings by the greats are displayed alongside featurettes that are inspired by the artist whose works are being presented. Past and current artists include Dalí, Van Gogh, and Monet.

Advertisem*nt

Advertisem*nt

Photo courtesy of Tom Little

No. 8:

Mattress Factory - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Mattress Factory offers a space in Pittsburgh "where you can immerse yourself in the creative vision of artists from around the world.” Artists work in residence to build site-specific installations, many of which blend art and technology while exploring the possibilities of audience interaction.

Photo courtesy of Superblue

No. 7:

Superblue Miami - Miami, Florida

Superblue Miami is an immersive installation created by a team of experimental artists. In this space across from theRubell Museum, be enveloped in light, wander through a maze of mirrors, and become engrossed in a digital environment.

Photo courtesy of Otherworld

No. 6:

Otherworld - Multiple locations

Otherworld, an immersive art experience in Columbus, Ohio, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, offers dozens of rooms of interactive art, secret passageways, and mixed reality playgrounds. Vistors enjoy eye-catching visuals and dazzling storytelling as they make their way through the spaces.

Advertisem*nt

Advertisem*nt

Photo courtesy of SUMMIT One Vanderbilt

No. 5:

SUMMIT One Vanderbilt - New York City, NY

At SUMMIT One Vanderbilt, visitors engage with art in a unique way that will challenge their perceptions, allowing them to become a part of the digital canvas. From looking at30,375 square feet of mirrors to seeing your face take shape among the clouds to taking in the view from one oftwo glass ledges suspended 1,100 feet above Madison Avenue, this experience will have you rethinking what art is and can be.

Photo courtesy of City Museum

No. 4:

City Museum - St. Louis, Missouri

City Museum in St. Louis, Missouri, is home to a 10-story spiral slide, the world'slargest jungle gym, and a rooftop garden that offers amazing city views. Some 20 artists created the large-scale features of this interactive museum well before the term 'immersive art' became a thing.

Photo courtesy of Dylan Johnson

See Also

The best immersive experiences in America to check out right now12 immersive experiences around the world you need to see | CNN Underscored10 incredible immersive experiences to do in NYC right nowWhere to soak in the 10 best immersive art experiences in the US

No. 3:

Factory Obscura - Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

This art collective in Oklahoma City crafts immersive experiences made to “awaken wonder, build community, and make the world better.” The 6,000-square-foot space houses rotating installations. Mix-Tape, the current experience, took nearly a year to design and install by a team of some 30 artists.

Advertisem*nt

Advertisem*nt

Photo courtesy of Parastella by Christopher Schardt, Photo by Patrick Darby

No. 2:

Wonderspaces - Multiple locations

As an interactive and immersive art show, Wonderspaces aims to empower people to connect with art and each other. It does this by collaborating with artists and setting up their shows in places that aren’t traditionally created to display art, serving those who wouldn’t otherwise seek art. They can be found in multiple cities such as Scottsdale, Philadelphia, San Diego, and Austin.

Photo courtesy of Matt Haas for Color Factory

No. 1:

Color Factory - Multiple locations

Become one with color at the Color Factory, where you can participate in more than a dozen immersive art exhibits. With locations in Chicago, Houston, and New York City, visitors can enjoy engaging their senses and indulging in play. You even get sweet treats, city keepsakes, and digital images throughout your journey.

Jacky Runice

Jacky Runice

Born in Bucktown when bulletproof was a home safety choice and not a coffee order, Jacky Runice has been knocking around Chicago as a professional print, online and broadcast journalist and editor specializing in separating the riff from the raff in culture, entertainment, food, travel and pure unadulterated fun. Jacky is a member of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA).In her best Chicagoese, Jacky asks, "Who has the time or money to blow on hotels, attractions, restaurants, exhibits and activities that blow?"

Jamie Davis Smith

Jamie Davis Smith

Jamie is a travel writer who has visited over 50 countries, many of them with her children in tow. She loves visiting everything from theme parks to ancient ruins and packs strictly carry-on-only. Jamie can be reached at jamiesmithwrites@gmail.com.

Meg St-Esprit

Meg St-Esprit

Meg St-Esprit is a journalist based in Pittsburgh who covers family travel, lifestyle, education, and parenting. With their four kids in tow, she and her husband love to travel anywhere and everywhere — but have a soft spot for camping and outdoor adventures. In fact, her kids are well on their way to achieving their goal of visiting all 124 state parks in Pennsylvania. Meg believes travel doesn’t need to be luxurious or costly to be valuable, and aims to share that with her audience. Meg’s work has appeared in publications such asThe New York Times, Thrillist, The Washington Post, Fodor’s, Yahoo, Good Housekeeping, Romper, and more. Follow Meg on Instagram and Twitter at @megstesprit or check out her work onhttps://megstesprit.com/

Michele Herrmann

Michele Herrmann

Michele Herrmann writes about travel, arts/entertainment, culture, history, food and drink and other fun stuff for various publications and companies. Her adventures have taken her as far as Fiji, to date.

Wendy O'Dea

Wendy O'Dea

Born and raised in western New York, Wendy O'Dea moved to L.A. to attend the USC graduate School of Journalism and stayed for the innovative and creative lifestyle the city offers. Other than the traffic, there's not much about California she doesn't love.You cantrack her gallivanting wayson Instagram via @WendyTravels .

10Best Editors

10Best Editors

USA TODAY 10Best provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the U.S. and around the world.

Vote Now!

• Best Family Attraction in Hawaii

  Cast your vote >

• Best Wine Region

  Cast your vote >

• Best Wine Tasting Room

  Cast your vote >

• Best Wine Shop

  Cast your vote >

• Best Wine Tour Company

  Cast your vote >

• Best Scenic Train Ride (2024)

  Here are the 10 best >

• Best Drive-In Theater (2024)

  Here are the 10 best >

• Best Outdoor Concert Series (2024)

  Here are the 10 best >

• Best Roadside Attraction (2024)

  Here are the 10 best >

• Best Attraction for Car Lovers (2024)

  Here are the 10 best >