Balloon art exhibit set to pop into L.A.

SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Expect genuine artistry, not a kids party with a clown, an organizer says

The Balloon Museum’s traveling exhibit “Let’s Fly” offers 20 inflatable artworks, one including thousands of LEDs. courtesy of Danilo D’Auria

Installations in “Let’s Fly” include mazes, landscapes, giant animals and animated figures. courtesy of Balloon Museum

The Balloon Museum exhibit has traveled to Paris, Milan, Madrid, London, New York, Atlanta and Miami, organizers say, and has been seen by some 4.4 million people. courtesy of Danilo D’Auria

Image

By Richard Guzman

riguzman@scng.com

A balloon art event is coming to Los Angeles, but don’t expect to see anyone folding anything into cute, simple animal shapes like at a kid’s birthday party. This is a serious show that’s been blowing minds around the world with pieces created by the foremost artists in inflatable art.

“It’s a very immersive exhibition. It’s very interactive as well, and it’s going to be a journey of emotions,” said Jesus Gonzalez, exhibition manager for the Balloon Museum, which produces contemporary art shows featuring inflatable and balloon art.

The museum’s latest show, “Let’s Fly,” opens Oct. 30 at Ace Mission Studios and runs through March 16. The sprawling, interactive exhibition is made up of 20 inflatable art installations by international artists who created pieces that include mazes, landscapes, giant animals, LED-lit works and animated figures.

“We’re talking about inflatable art and artists that have been working on this with big careers. These are renowned artists from all over the world. This is an art exhibition — we’re not talking about something that’s just playful. It is playful but it is beyond that. It’s a serious exhibition,” Gonzalez said.

Founded in Rome in 2021, the Balloon Museum has sent the exhibit to Paris; Milan; Madrid; Naples, Italy; London; New York; Barcelona, Spain; Atlanta; and Miami, counting an attendance of about 4.4 million before coming to Los Angeles for the first time, according to organizers.

“Usually the feedback we get from people is that they get more than what they were expecting. They realize that it actually is an art exhibition and interactive at the same time,” Gonzalez said.

When it opens in Los Angeles people will see pieces that include massive works like “Mariposa,” a 26-foot-wide butterfly sculpture designed by Oakland-based LED artist Christopher Schardt. His piece made its debut at Nevada’s Burning Man festival in 2023 and is illuminated with more than 39,000 LED lights.

Other pieces include “Eye Scream,” by artist Filthy Luker, who creates pop-art monsters that are funny characters with often comical expressions. For the Balloon Museum the artist made a piece that seems to be hysterically laughing and crying simultaneously. Another highlight is the “Flying Maze,” an interactive piece created by Cyril Lancelin for the Los Angeles show that looks like a green labyrinth with illuminated spaces that people can explore. It’s one of the many installations that Gonzalez says will make people rethink the way they view art.

“It’s all very inspiring in terms of realizing what you can do with materials and what materials can tell you in terms of emotions,” Gonzalez said.