After a yearlong closure, the digital art space Artechouse is reopening in Southwest DC on September 11. It will display what it is calling its largest group exhibition to date, “Submerge Project,” which will offer visitors the chance to journey through 14 immersive universes.
In May 2025, the venue temporarily closed due to nearby construction. The new exhibition was designed by 13 artist teams using Render Network Foundation’s crowdsourced computing power, said to be a cutting-edge technology that helps artists create works at record speeds.
A 45-minute cinematic piece in the Immersion Gallery, “Beyond the Render”—which debuted in New York last year—is a floor-to-ceiling canvas that utilizes 3-D art and GPU technology to engulf guests in mirror rooms, display fuchsia landscapes of nature, and project cosmic light shows at an impressive 18k resolution.
The compilation of shorts is created by a collective of artists, ranging from Emmy-winning anime creators to celebrity-commissioned concert visualists such as digital fine artist David Ariew. The “1685” piece by Ariew and his wife, Chelsea Evenstar, began as Coachella visuals for mega DJ Zedd. Stained-glass window panels pulse and ripple in sync with Zedd’s orchestral “1685” score.
“It becomes like a cathedral you’re sitting in, rather than the facade of a cathedral you’re looking at,” Ariew says. “At Artechouse, literally the visuals are the entire show.”
Beyond the centerpiece feature, visitors can interact with 18 futuristic installations in the surrounding galleries. The family-friendly experience invites gallery-goers to chat in real time with an AI penguin, hit the dance floor with animated flamingos that respond to movement, and trade places with a droid.
“There’s a philosophy of art is for all,” says marketing director Josh Feldman—a goal of the venue.
The exhibit is accompanied by the return of XR Bar, serving cocktails and mocktails for guests to sip before or after strolling through the galleries. On opening day, September 11, visitors can check out the new creations during the day or explore in the evening from 7 to 10 PM as part of DC’s Art All Night programming.
Artechouse DC is open Thursday through Sunday. Admission is $24 to $27 for adults, $17 for youth ages 4 to 15, and free for children younger than 3.
Briana A. Thomas is a local journalist, historian, and tour guide who specializes in the research of D.C. history and culture. She is the author of the Black history book, Black Broadway in Washington, D.C., a story that was first published in Washingtonian in 2016.
