Photography: Angie McMonigal
Currents of Chicago – A Moving Artwork” Celebrates the Dynamic Urban Flow of the Windy City’s Past and Future
ART on THE MART, the world’s largest digital art project, is proud to premiere Currents of Chicago (June 5 – July 6), a new moving artwork by acclaimed Chicago-based architecture and design firm Perkins&Will. Debuting just ahead of the 56th edition of NeoCon 2025, the leading platform for commercial design (June 9-11), Currents honors the visible and invisible forces shaping the city—from water and wind to data, infrastructure, and design. Presented in partnership with Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), the commissioned projection transforms THE MART’s iconic 2.5-acre facade into a larger-than-life cinematic tribute to the lakeside city’s enduring spirit. This marks the third consecutive year of alignment between ART on THE MART and NeoCon.
“Everything we interact with—from the systems we move through to the stories we tell—is shaped by design,” says Yvette Fevurly, Principal of Branded Environments at Perkins&Will. “Currents reveals the underlying threads of human need and imagination that drive progress. Design is not decoration—it’s direction. It guides experience, reveals meaning, and charts the way forward.”
Set to the pulse of Chicago house music by West Side producer Aniko Thomas, also known as Niko The Great, Currents takes viewers on a visual and auditory journey through the city’s rich design heritage. Drawing inspiration from the natural, human, and technological streams circulating throughout—from the Chicago River and Lake Michigan to the layered transit systems and diverse communities—the piece animates the interconnected rhythms that define modern life. Celebrating resilience, reinvention, and Chicago’s intrinsic beauty through vivid illustrations and bold visual storytelling, the work weaves together iterations of engineered landscapes, cultural expression, and the constant push of design and technology.
“Currents is more than a projection; it’s a celebration of our city’s culture, architecture, ingenuity, and evolution,” says Cynthia Noble, Executive Director of ART on THE MART. “Perkins&Will’s deep Chicago roots and forward-thinking design approach shine through in this vivid tapestry of color and creativity,” she concludes.
The currents, both literal and figurative, are a nod to the Windy City’s continuous momentum, setting events and ideas into motion. An intentional exploration of the future, Currents reflects how design, technology, and nature intersect to create a more resilient and human-centered city. Chicago’s energy is not just a byproduct of history—it’s a catalyst for purposeful progress, continuously evolving, adapting, and envisioning a more sustainable and thriving urban environment. Coursing through people and connecting thoughts, Currents invites viewers to engage in a dynamic dialogue across time and space.
The moving artwork can best be experienced from The Jetty section of the Chicago Riverwalk on Wacker Drive between Wells Street and Franklin Street, where accompanying music can also be heard. Currents will run at 9 pm nightly June 5 through June 15, and then Thursday through Sunday evenings, June 19 through July 6. ART on THE MART is free and open to the public. For more information on the 2025 season, please visit artonthemart.com.
About ART on THE MART
ART on THE MART, presented in partnership with Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE), is an innovative digital art project that transforms a Chicago architectural landmark into a larger-than-life canvas, spanning over 2.5 acres of THE MART along the city’s Riverwalk. Founded in 2018, ART on THE MART is a platform for cutting-edge moving image work by renowned local, national, and international interdisciplinary artists. Under the direction of Cynthia Noble, the program has commissioned work by celebrated names like Nick Cave, Barbara Kruge, and Charles Atlas, along with projections by Chicago-based artists and local organizations that elevate voices and artists from underrepresented communities.
The program is a result of a 30-year commitment by THE MART owner Vornado Realty Trust, in close collaboration with the City of Chicago, with a shared goal to provide public access to innovative contemporary digital art for thousands of visitors traversing the Chicago Riverwalk each day. The project marks the first time a projection of its size and scope is completely dedicated to digital art with no branding, sponsorship credits, or messaging. The permanent projection system illuminates THE MART with 34 state-of-the-art projectors totaling almost one million lumens. The program content rotates seasonally and is selected with the assistance and expertise of the Curatorial Advisory Board, along with the support of a curator who was appointed in 2023. For more information, visit artonthemart.com or follow us on Instagram: @artonthemart, Facebook: @artonthemart, and Twitter: @artonthemart.
About THE MART
THE MART is the largest privately held commercial building in the United States: It encompasses 4.2 million gross square feet, spans two city blocks, rises 25 stories, and is visited by an average of 30,000 people each business day (or nearly 10 million people annually).
THE MART serves as the home to Chicago’s most creative and technologically innovative companies, including Motorola Mobility, PayPal, Avant, and MATTER, as well as Fortune 500 companies Conagra Brands, Allstate, Medline Industries, Beam Suntory, IPG, and Grainger. It is also the largest and most important center for design in North America, with more than 250 premier design showrooms offering the latest resources for both residential and commercial markets.
About the Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE)
The City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (DCASE) supports artists and cultural organizations, invests in the creative economy, and expands access and participation in the arts throughout Chicago’s 77 neighborhoods. As a collaborative cultural presenter, arts funder, and advocate for creative workers, our programs and events serve Chicagoans and visitors of all ages and backgrounds, downtown and in diverse communities across our city – to strengthen and celebrate Chicago. DCASE produces some of the city’s most iconic festivals, markets, events, and exhibitions at the Chicago Cultural Center, Millennium Park, and in communities across the city – serving a local and global audience of 25 million people. The Department offers cultural grants and resources, manages public art, supports TV and film production and other creative industries, and permits special events throughout Chicago. For further details, visit Chicago.gov/DCASE and stay connected via newsletters and social media.
About Perkins&Will
Perkins&Will, an interdisciplinary, research-based architecture and design firm, was founded in 1935 on the belief that design has the power to transform lives. The firm is committed to creating a better, beautiful, more equitable world through Living Design, an approach that integrates environmental, social, and design considerations to advance ecological health and well-being. Interior Design named Perkins&Will a “Sustainability Giant” in 2024; Architizer named it the world’s “Best Sustainable Firm” in 2023; and Metropolis named it “Firm of the Year” in 2022 for its industry leadership in advancing climate action and social justice. Fast Company named Perkins&Will one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies in Architecture three times, and in 2021, it added the firm to its list of Brands That Matter—making Perkins&Will the first architecture practice in the world to earn the distinction.
With an international team of more than 2,400 professionals, Perkins&Will has over 30 studios worldwide, providing integrated services in architecture, interior design, branded environments, urban design, and landscape architecture. Partners include Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects; McLennan Design; Portland; Nelson\Nygaard; and Pierre-Yves Rochon (PYR). For more information, visit www.perkinswill.com.
About Aniko Thomas
Aniko Thomas, also known as Niko The Great, is a producer out of Chicago’s West Side. He’s worked with artists like Jack Harlow, Fivio Foreign, G Herbo, Vic Mensa, Phabo, Teezo Touchdown, Maxo Kream, and more. Known for his versatility, Niko blends everything from Hip Hop and R&B to Indie Rock and House, always bringing a unique, genre-blending touch to his production. Follow Niko on Instagram @1.nikothegreat.
About NeoCon
NeoCon is the world’s leading platform and most important event for the commercial interiors industry, held each year at THE MART in Chicago. Since launching in 1969, NeoCon has served as the annual gathering place for the commercial design world’s manufacturers, dealers, architects, designers, end-users, design organizations, and media. The three-day event showcases game-changing products and services from more than 400 leading and emerging companies—providing unparalleled access to the latest and most innovative solutions. A robust educational program of keynote presentations and CEU sessions offers world-class expertise and insight into today’s most relevant topics as well as the future of commercial design. www.neocon.com
NeoCon® is a registered trademark of Merchandise Mart Properties Inc., a subsidiary of Vornado Realty Trust.