In celebration of the 20th anniversary of The Gates by artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Brooklyn based immersive design & XR production studio Dirt Empire, founded by ITP alumni Nicholas Rubin, brought two groundbreaking augmented reality (AR) experiences to life. In Central Park “The Gates Augmented Reality” was created with fellow ITP alumni Igal Nassima, Erica Newman and their technology studio Superbright.. Then in conjunction with the retrospective exhibition "Christo and Jeanne-Claude: The Gates and Unrealized Projects for New York City, currently on display at The Shed they created “The Gates An Interactive Map” with NYU Tisch alumni Ivaylo Getov and his creative technology studio Pixels Pixels.
Both projects were commissioned by The Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation and supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies.
Originally installed in February 2005, The Gates transformed Central Park with 23 miles of vibrant saffron-colored gates, attracting over four million visitors over its 16-day run. This monumental public art installation left a lasting impact on the city, offering a moment of renewal and creativity following the events of 9/11. Now, two decades later, Dirt Empire has reimagined The Gates for a new generation with two immersive AR experiences.
Christo and Jeanne-Claude, The Gates, Central Park, New York City, 1979-2005, Photo: Wolfgang Volz © 2005 Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation
Early image of "The Gates: An Augmented Reality Experience" in Central Park to be available through the Bloomberg Connects app in February 2025 © 2025 Joe Pugliese and Dirt Empire
The Gates Augmented Reality Experience at Central Park allows visitors to virtually relive the original installation as they walk through the park. Accessible via the Bloomberg Connects app, the AR experience spans 0.6 miles, featuring 250 virtual gates along select walkways starting at E 72nd Street and 5th Avenue. As one of the most ambitious public art AR projects ever created, it brings The Gates back to life with multiple interactive elements, running for six weeks to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the iconic installation.
Location of The Gates Augmented Reality Experience, New York City, 2025 © 2025 Dirt Empire, Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation
At The Shed, visitors can explore The Gates Interactive Map, a tabletop AR map that provides a detailed overview of the full scope of Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s original vision. Developed in collaboration with Pixels Pixels, founded by Ivaylo Getov, an alumni of Tisch Film & Television, the 18-foot interactive map includes iPads equipped with custom software that offer a birds-eye view of Central Park and the locations of each gate. The interactive map also unlocks archival images, 360-degree panoramas, and photographs of the original installation by Sam Rohn, giving viewers a deeper connection to the history of this iconic art project.
An immersive exhibition at The Shed, Courtesy of Bloomberg Philanthropies
The Gates Interactive Map, part of the Exhibition "Christo and Jeanne-Claude: The Gates and Unrealized Projects for New York City", The Shed, 2025
The project includes major contributions from several other ITP alumni, including Senior Producer Erica Newman, Multimedia Designer Caren Wenqing Ye, and Senior Engineer Brandon Roots as well as IDM alumni Ker Chen.
Dirt Empire's work on these two projects is a tribute to the lasting legacy of The Gates, a moment in public art history that continues to inspire. The studio’s creative direction has brought Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s vision into the digital realm with the support of the Christo and Jeanne-Claude Foundation, Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Central Park Conservancy, NYC Parks, and The Shed.
Join Dirt Empire in celebrating the 20th anniversary of The Gates with the Gates Augmented Reality Experience in Central Park and the Gates Interactive Map at The Shed.
Download Bloomberg Connects app (https://www.bloombergconnects.org/) and visit Christo and Jeanne-Claude’s website (christojeanneclaude.net/thegates20/), The Shed’s website (https://www.theshed.org/program/441-christo-and-jeanne-claude-the-gates-and-unrealized-projects-for-new-york-city) for more details.
