By Mia Farley
Art has always been a powerful tool for human expression, but some artists don’t just push boundaries, they shatter them entirely. These five wackiest, most experimental art installations go beyond conventional definitions of art by defying expectations and challenging the very framework of how we experience creativity. Through daring experimentation and unconventional mediums, these works blur the lines between sensory immersion, world building, and avant-garde exploration.
‘The Fountain’ by Marcel Duchamp (1917)
In ‘The Fountain’, Duchamp puts a porcelain urinal in a museum setting, not only causing a massive scandal on an international scale but questioning what art is and who gets to decide. Duchamp was a pioneer of the Dada movement in France that was emerging in the early 20th century. The Dadaists prioritised the nonsensical to directly oppose traditional artistic standards which were becoming increasingly materialistic and consumer-focused. The use of existing objects taken from real life and re-contextualized through an artist lens was not new for Duchamp, who had already produced many ‘readymades’ that focused on the concept of the art rather than the art itself. The absurdity of his pieces, as is certainly the case for ‘The Fountain’, reimagined what the avant-garde could be and inspired many more artists to push this boundary.
- Read: Art installations in New York | 5 must-see installations in 2025
- Listen: Concert pianist Stephen Hough on his passion for painting
‘Infinity Mirror Room’ by Yayoi Kusama (1965)
We can’t talk about experimental art installations without mentioning Yayoi Kusama. Born in Matsumoto, Japan, Kusama rose to international acclaim in the 1960s with her bold, avant-garde approach. Best known for her obsession with polka dots, she has created countless iterations of her iconic Infinity Rooms—mesmerizing spaces filled with mirrors and lights that make viewers feel as if they’ve stepped into an endless universe. These immersive environments bring her sculptures and paintings to life, transforming her artistic vision into a fully physical, all-encompassing experience that continues to captivate audiences around the world.
‘The Smell Organ’ at the Guggenheim Museum (2009)
Continuing our survey of experimental art installations: the Smell Organ at the Guggenheim Museum wasn’t just an instrument—it was a nose-powered adventure. Featured in Green Aria: A ScentOpera, an experimental production that blended scent and sound, this wacky contraption transformed the theatre into a giant, fragrant playground during its performances on May 31 and June 1, 2009. As the opera unfolded, the Smell Organ puffed out carefully-curated aromas, immersing the audience in a sensory rollercoaster. One moment, they inhaled the crisp air of a mountaintop; the next, they were hit with the smoky whiff of an apocalyptic dreamscape. A truly nose-first approach to theatre, it proved opera could be smelled as much as it was heard.
- Read: 5 pieces of classical music inspired by paintings
- Watch: Interview with artisan perfumer Sarah McCartney on fragrancing the arts
‘Meow Wolf’, multiple sites across the United States
Meow Wolf is a full-blown, sensory-overload adventure that bends reality at every turn. Born in Santa Fe and now sprawling into Denver, Las Vegas, and beyond, this immersive art collective turns storytelling into a neon-drenched fever dream. Step inside, and you might find a glowing refrigerator that’s actually a portal, a treehouse floating in a cosmic abyss, or a room that hums and changes colours when you touch the walls. Each location has its own bizarre universe – Denver’s Convergence Station feels like stepping into an interdimensional transit hub, while Santa Fe’s House of Eternal Return unravels a mystery inside a Victorian house gone haywire. It’s part sci-fi, part psychedelic escape room, and part playground for grown-ups (and kids). Whether you’re crawling through tunnels, decoding cryptic messages, or jamming on laser harp strings, Meow Wolf is proof that art isn’t just for looking, it’s for getting lost in.
‘The Vandenberg: Life Below the Surface’, Florida (2011)
Last on our list of experimental art installations: in 2011, Austrian photographer Andreas Franke unveiled an extraordinary underwater art exhibition titled “The Vandenberg: Life Below the Surface.” This unique showcase featured twelve digitally manipulated photographs depicting surreal, everyday scenes set against the backdrop of the sunken USS General Hoyt S. Vandenberg, an artificial reef located approximately seven miles off the coast of Key West, Florida. To experience this submerged gallery, divers descended about 100 feet beneath the ocean’s surface, where the images were mounted directly onto the shipwreck using strong magnets. Each photograph was encased in Plexiglas and framed with stainless steel, ensuring durability in the underwater environment. This innovative fusion of art and marine exploration offered a captivating, immersive experience, blending human narratives with the enigmatic beauty of the deep sea.