Balloon Museum has toured inflatable art through Rome, Milan, Paris and London, and the Seaport's Tin Building is now its first permanent US home — so DAYDREAM is not a pop-up you will miss. The line-up is stronger than the concept suggests: Marina Abramović, Martin Creed and Alex Schweder are serious artists working in air, and the rooms run from playful to disorienting. It is the rare immersive show that holds up for adults and kids at once.
What to expect
You move through a sequence of rooms, each given over to a single artist's inflatable or air-based installation, with plenty of works you walk into rather than look at. Lighting and sound change room to room, and several spaces are built for people to climb into or push through. The Tin Building's food hall is on the same site if you want to make a longer visit of it.
Good to know
- The Tin Building is at 96 South Street in the Seaport, a short walk from Fulton Street on the A, C, J, Z, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
- Timed entry is standard for immersive shows here, so booking ahead avoids a wait at the door.
- Several installations are walk-in or climb-in, so wear something you can move in.
- It photographs extremely well — this is one of the more camera-friendly shows in the city.
- The Tin Building's food hall and the Seaport waterfront make it easy to build a half-day around the visit.
- Some rooms use low light and enclosed spaces, worth knowing if that is uncomfortable for you.
Get Saturday planned every Thursday
One email a week — the best of the NYC weekend board. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
Common questions
Which artists are in DAYDREAM?
The exhibition features internationally acclaimed artists including Marina Abramović, Martin Creed and Alex Schweder, among others, all working with inflatable and air-based forms.
Where is Balloon Museum in New York?
Inside the Tin Building by Jean-Georges at 96 South Street in the Seaport — the first permanent United States location for Balloon Museum.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes. The installations are physical and walk-through by design, which makes it one of the more genuinely family-friendly art shows in the city, though a few rooms use low light.
