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.

To read more about the project and download the Bloomberg Connects app, visit the Central Park website here.