Refik Anadol is opening the doors to Dataland, a new cultural institution in downtown Los Angeles dedicated to exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence, data, and contemporary art.
Opening June 20 inside the Frank Gehry-designed Grand LA complex, the permanent museum is being positioned as the world’s first museum dedicated to AI arts. Located opposite the Walt Disney Concert Hall, Dataland represents a major milestone for the Turkish-American media artist, whose immersive installations have transformed museums and public spaces worldwide.
Consequently, the new institution expands Anadol’s practice beyond temporary exhibitions and into a permanent platform devoted to data-driven creativity. In addition, the museum reflects the growing influence of artificial intelligence within contemporary visual culture and experiential design.
‘Machine Dreams: Rainforest’ Transforms Environmental Data Into Immersive Installations
The museum’s inaugural exhibition, Machine Dreams: Rainforest, transforms environmental data gathered from rainforests around the world into an immersive, multisensory experience spanning five galleries.
At the center of the project is Anadol Studio’s “Large Nature Model,” an open-source artificial intelligence system trained exclusively on nature-based datasets. These materials originate from organizations including the Smithsonian, the Getty Conservation Institute, and London’s Natural History Museum, as well as field research conducted across 16 rainforests.
As a result, the exhibition creates a dialogue between ecological research and digital art. Visitors move through environments featuring monumental projections, responsive soundscapes, scent technologies, and biometric interaction.
Highlights include the Data Pavilion, where live environmental information continuously generates evolving visual compositions. Meanwhile, the “Infinity Room” surrounds visitors with an LED environment inspired by the Amazon rainforest, extending Anadol’s interest in immersive spatial experiences.
Guests are also provided wearable devices that monitor movement and biometric responses, allowing the exhibition to evolve throughout each visit. According to Dataland, all collected data remains anonymous and is deleted after 30 days.
AI, Architecture, and Sensory Design Converge at Dataland
Amid ongoing discussions surrounding artificial intelligence and creativity, Dataland presents an alternative vision for the technology. Rather than emphasizing automation, the institution focuses on environmental awareness, participation, and sensory engagement.
Furthermore, the museum positions AI as a tool for artistic exploration and collective experience. Therefore, the project underscores how emerging technologies continue to reshape contemporary art, exhibition design, and public engagement.
Housed within Frank Gehry’s Grand LA complex, the institution also highlights the relationship between architecture and digital culture. Consequently, Dataland establishes a new destination for immersive art in Los Angeles while reinforcing Refik Anadol’s role in advancing AI-driven artistic practices.
Machine Dreams: Rainforest opens on June 20 and remains on view through January 31, 2027.
Dataland
100 S Grand Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90012