Harpist Cassie Watson Francillon at Music Box Village in New Orleans | PHOTO: 61elephone for Wikimedia Commons
Though visual art has been favoured by history, sound art brings a uniquely transformative experience offering audiences a new way to look at, or rather hear, the world around them. Auditory exhibitions are capable of capturing an ephemerality, examining such themes as memory and the beauty of daily life. In 2025 sound artists around the world are taking multidisciplinary approaches to the artform, elevating storytelling and inviting audiences to feel.
Music Box Village – New Orleans, USA
Born out of hurricane Katrina’s devastation, this musical, architectural New Orleans staple has been exhibiting sound art for 15 years. With 16+ “musical houses” to date, the Music Box Village acts as an outdoor sonic sculpture garden: an interactive way to engage with sound and art, as well as musical performance and interdisciplinary fun. This centre for community has hosted dozens of musicians and provides a musical escape to those in need. In addition to sound art the Music Box Village also provides welding classes, concerts, and different collaborative events each month to foster camaraderie.
- Watch: British soundartist Kathy Hinde gives a TED talk about her work
- Read: Profile of Kathy Hinde | the British soundartist who takes inspiration from nature and, especially, the flight of birds
Le Son 7 – Capestang, France
Le Son 7 is a groundbreaking sound art gallery where auditory experiences take centrestage, redefining the way we interact with art. Nestled in an avant-garde space, the gallery curates immersive installations that blend soundscapes, music and experimental audio-visual elements. Each exhibit invites visitors to explore the emotional and spatial dimensions of sound, from the subtle resonance of everyday objects to the profound depths of digitally-engineered frequencies. Allusive and lauded, the gallery is by appointment only so if you’re in the south of France it’s definitely worth the trip, otherwise you may find a stray exhibition in London or Soho if you’re lucky.
- Read: Profile-review of Jules Rawlinson | an audiovisual artist who imagines sounds where they don’t exist
- Read: Review of FOREST (For a thousand years) | an audio installation in a wooded clearing
Listen to the Voices of the Fen Outside – Cambridge, UK
The Listen to the Voices of the Fen Outside exhibit is a glowing exploration of the natural world’s subtle symphony, offering visitors an immersive and complex auditory experience. Through a combination of nature recordings, art installations, and interactive displays, the exhibit highlights the whispers of reeds and flowers swaying in the wind, the distant calls of waterbirds, and the rhythmic hum of insects. Each element compels the listener to appreciate the balance of nature and the too-often ignored beauty of its sound. Located in Cambridgeshire, this exhibition invites its visitors to go on “Deep Listening Walks” and indulge in the mastery of its “Live Hydrophone Stream”.
- Read: Profile of Bill Fontana | a sound artist unlocking Suffolk’s sonic secrets
- Read: Profile of Richard Bullen | a composer whose aim is to make audiences more aware of their surroundings
Hồi Sóng – venues in Vietnam
The “Hồi Sóng” exhibit is a Vietnamese gem that through a musical journey explores the intersection of tradition and modernity, offering a profound exploration of Vietnam’s cultural resilience and creative spirit. The project juxtaposes archival materials from Vietnam’s past with musical and occasionally visual accompaniments.The exhibit is available in both digital form at hoisong.art and was available in physical form at Sàn Art (in 2021)in Ho Chi Minh City and Manzi Art Space (in 2024) in Hanoi. Hoi Song translates to “Rebirth” or “Resurgence,” with each piece reflecting the artists’ response to these themes. “Hồi Sóng” captures the pulse of a society in constant evolution while honouring its deep-rooted past. Immersive and thought-provoking, the exhibit invites visitors to reflect on how culture adapts and flourishes amid change.
- Read: Review of Video Sound Art Festival
- Read: What is Fluxus? Our guide to the “unnameable” artistic phenomenon that revels in absurdism
The Engine Room 2025 – London, UK
The Engine Room 2025: International Sound Art Competition and Exhibition is a global celebration of innovative sound art based in London. The event is designed to push the boundaries of auditory creativity and expression and is open to the public! This highly anticipated exhibition allows artists, composers and experimental sound designers from around the world to showcase their groundbreaking work in a dynamic, immersive setting. Combining cutting-edge technology with artistic ingenuity, the Engine Room offers a platform for exploring the intersections of sound, space, and perception. Whether through abstract sonic landscapes, interactive compositions, or conceptual soundscapes, the Engine Room 2025 challenges participants and audiences alike to rethink how sound shapes our understanding of the world.
- Read: Who is Meredith Monk? | Our guide to the American interdisciplinary artist
- Read: Profile of Mark Lyken | a sound artist whose new work is inspired by the forms and rhythms of the tides