Aquarium Unveil ChamäleTuna an Interactive Light Art Installation DDD and Arts New Orleans continue their mission to creatively illuminate downtown
“The DDD is committed to enhancing downtown livability through creative placemaking projects that make our public spaces more vibrant, welcoming, and safe,” said DDD President & CEO Seth Knudsen. “Artist Ilya Sobol’s light installation presented a unique opportunity to beautify the area around the Aquarium, elevate the visitor experience, and draw even more attention to one of Downtown New Orleans’ premier attractions.”
Using interactive technology, ChamäleTuna detects the colors worn by visitors and transforms in real time to reflect those hues. A red jacket, blue shirt, or patterned dress each influences the artwork’s evolving palette, creating a layered and ever-changing visual experience shaped entirely by the public.
“We are excited to welcome ChamäleTuna as a new extension of the Audubon Aquarium experience, bringing its sense of wonder beyond regular operating hours and into the heart of the public realm,” said Michael J. Sawaya, President and CEO of Audubon Nature Institute. “This installation offers an engaging and interactive attraction for Aquarium visitors and downtown New Orleans guests alike, creating opportunities for exploration, creativity, and connection throughout the day and evening.”
More than an interactive spectacle, ChamäleTuna serves as a reflection of the diversity that defines New Orleans. Constantly adapting to the people around it, the installation symbolizes the beauty of difference, identity, and coexistence within a shared community.“ChamäleTuna reminds us that our individuality contributes to something larger,” said Artist Ilya Sobol. “The installation evolves through human interaction, celebrating the richness and diversity of the people who experience it.”
Located at the entrance of the Audubon Aquarium along the Mississippi River the installation is now on view from sunset to 10pm each evening. “ChamäleTuna is part of an expanding collection of light-based art across New Orleans,” said Arts New Orleans President and CEO Joycelyn Reynolds. “These pieces build upon the creative momentum and artistic energy showcased during LUNA Fête, transforming temporary moments into lasting public artworks that enhance everyday life, strengthen community identity, and expand year-round access to art and creativity across the city.”
About the artist:
Ilya Sobol is a Los Angeles-based public artist and product design engineer whose work merges emotional resonance with engineering precision. Drawing from a multidisciplinary practice rooted in technology, mechanics, and interactive design, Sobol creates immersive experiences that explore human connection, perception, and play.Diagnosed with ASD and ADHD, Sobol approaches neurodivergence as a creative strength, shaping a practice grounded in structure, sensory awareness, and curiosity. His work often bridges the technical and the poetic, transforming engineering systems into responsive artistic experiences. From large-scale festival installations that react to audience interaction to mechanically adaptive design objects, Sobol investigates how technology can foster new meanings, interpretations, and forms of engagement between people and their environments.
About Arts New Orleans
Arts Council of New Orleans, dba Arts New Orleans is a private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1975 and designated as the official arts agency for the City of New Orleans. The organization supports public art and artists, creating work that inspires, connects, and enriches the community through creative expression.
About the Downtown Development District
Created by the Louisiana Legislature in 1974 (LA Rev Stat § 33:2740.3) as the nation’s first assessment-based Business Improvement District, The Downtown Development District of the City of New Orleans (DDD) provides enhanced economic development and public space services to Downtown New Orleans. It accomplishes its mission through initiatives assisting Downtown property and business owners, administering multiple grant programs, employing Public Safety Rangers, deploying Clean Team sanitation workers, and providing significant funding for outreach to the homeless, additional New Orleans Police Department patrols, and armed private security throughout its District. The DDD services the area bounded by Iberville Street, the Pontchartrain Expressway, Claiborne Avenue, and the Mississippi River. More information is available at www.downtownnola.com.
About Audubon Aquarium
Audubon Nature Institute is a New Orleans, Louisiana-based expansive collection of world-class attractions, parks, and conservation initiatives united with the purpose of celebrating, protecting, and connecting guests to the wonders of nature. Audubon parks and attractions include Audubon Park, Audubon Zoo, Audubon Aquarium & Butterfly Garden, Goldring Woldenberg Riverfront Park, Audubon Louisiana Nature Center, Freeport-McMoRan Audubon Species Survival Center, and Audubon Wilderness Park. Conservation initiatives include Audubon Aquarium Rescue, Association of Zoos and Aquariums S.A.F.E. (Saving Animals From Extinction) Programs including those for African Penguins, whooping cranes, and orangutans, and additional wildlife conservation efforts within Louisiana and around the world.