McMillian builds worlds out of motion capture and animation, and here the subject is phytoplankton, the microscopic engine of every ocean system, scaled up until you are standing inside a bloom. Child, an avatar recurring across her work, dissolves into it. If you want art that feels closer to a game engine than a gallery, this is the room where that happens.
What to expect
A floor-to-ceiling video installation you enter rather than face, moving between scales from microorganism to ocean to cosmos, with sculpture and sound layered around it. Interactive elements respond as you move through the space. It sits in the same building as two other exhibitions, so one trip covers all three.
Good to know
- Nearest trains: F or G to Smith-9th St, then the B61 bus to King Street
- The NYC Ferry South Brooklyn route reaches Red Hook/Atlantic Basin
- Elevator access to all three floors following the 2025 renovation
- The back garden is open to visitors too, and worth a detour
- Immersive video and sound; a good fit for teens and gamers
- Red Hook has limited subway service, so allow extra travel time
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Common questions
Is it interactive?
Yes, the installation uses interactive systems that respond to visitors moving through the space.
How did the work come about?
It was developed alongside McMillian's 2026 OceanX Education artist residency, piloted in partnership with Pioneer Works.
Can I see all three Pioneer Works shows at once?
Yes, three exhibitions opened on the same day in the building and all run into November or December.
More this weekend
