At the corner of Diversey and Pulaski, behind a strip mall, is a giant warehouse transformed into the world's first traveling museum dedicated to inflatable art.
"We are the only one of its kind in the world. It features all kinds of inflatable installations," smiled Antonella Di Lullo, lead curator, The Balloon Museum.
The 17 room, 65,000 square foot space is part of Fields Studio, Gate 1, 2828 N. Pulaski Road, a football field of stages and art space in the Avondale neighborhood.
"We've been all over the world. We came to Chicago because it's such a great city. People here appreciate art. For us, it's important to tap into the cultural community." she said.
The exhibit takes patrons through a labyrinth of modern art in the form of large scale balloon installations.
"This is dedicated to emotion. We asked different artists to create an art work and choose one emotion to show the public. For example we have an artwork dedicated to fear. These are giant inflatable pieces that connect the public with these emotions."
Di Lullo says its a sensory experience that encourages patrons to connect and participate.
"Inflatable art is a movement. We've discovered from the very beginning how this medium can be adopted in different ways. Our aim is to create an exhibit where the air in general can be showed in all different ways. All the artists approached this medium in different ways. Balloons, bubbles, all kinds of different approaches." said Di Lullo.
Since debuting in 2021, Balloon Museum’s exhibitions have drawn more than seven million visitors world wide.
"We started in Rome where the production company is based. We then went to Paris, Madrid, Naples, Milan, in the USA, New York, Miami, Atlanta even Singapore."
Chicago is it's 21st stop.
"We want patrons to interact with the artwork. It's immersive. That's the point. It's interesting to see how people interact and move within the creations. Our inflatables are really big."
Over the years, the concept has developed four showcases, Pop Air, Let’s Fly, EmotionAir, and Euphoria. The global contemporary art project is the first dedicated entirely to inflatable works, with air itself as the creative medium.
Balloon Museum is bringing its EmotionAir: Art You Can Feel exhibition to The Fields Studios, from October 30, 2025 through April 6, 2026. For more information or tickets log on here.
