The Balloon Museum is opening its first permanent U.S. location in New York City's Tin Building at the Seaport, formerly a Jean-Georges Vongerichten food market. The inaugural exhibition, titled "DAYDREAM: AIR BECOMES ART," opens July 15 and features large-scale immersive installations by international artists, including a centerpiece work by Marina Abramović called "Snowy/Windy/Spring on Planet Z." Other participating artists include Turner Prize winner Martin Creed, Karina Smigla-Bobinski, Thom Kubli, and Valerio Berruti. The exhibition is curated by Valentino Catricalà.
The Balloon Museum, conceived by Italian company Lux Entertainment, debuted in Italy in 2021 and has attracted over eight million visitors across 23 cities, with previous pop-ups at venues like the Grand Palais in Paris and Marina Bay Sands in Singapore. This permanent New York location marks a significant expansion for the viral museum concept, which specializes in air-filled, interactive art experiences. The opening underscores the growing popularity of immersive, Instagram-friendly art attractions and their ability to draw large audiences in major cultural capitals.