With 40,000 square feet of mind-bending eye candy to explore, a visit to Seismique is guaranteed to spark young and old imaginations—making it a great thing to do with kids or on a date night. If you’re ready to experience this fantasy hideaway tucked in a former former Bed, Bath & Beyond location, keep reading.

Thanks to haunted-house mastermind Steve Kopelman, Houstonians can enjoy immersive art entertainment without traveling to a Meow Wolf or Wonderspace venue.

“I’ve been involved in location-based entertainment for four decades,” said Kopelman, Seismique’s founder. “I started by producing pop-up haunted houses, growing that into the largest haunted-house company in the world. Then I saw escape rooms … and immersive museums that were being well-received in Japan.” He decided Houston was the perfect place to create Seismique.

Opened in 2021 in a former Bed, Bath & Beyond, this colorful multi-verse features works by 55 artists, technologists and experience designers, many from Texas and 37 in Houston. The museum showcases local artists’ work alongside the exhibits.

Community-minded Seismique’s mission is to boost emerging artists’ careers, spark visitors’ imaginations and provide a fun place for STEAM educational activities. Kopelman estimated that artist commissions and materials alone cost $1.2 million.

Seismique’s accolades include being voted as one of the 10 best immersive art experiences in the U.S. by USA Today in 2022. It was also touted as a must-see museum for the whole family by Houstonia Magazine, and named one of the coolest art installations in the U.S. by Time Out.

Seismique has also been praised for its commitment to sustainability and awarded Green Business Certification by the City of Houston. The installation’s reuse and upcycling of materials includes Sparker Studio’s motion-themed “Flare” that integrates construction remnants.

What to expect during a visit to Seismique

Upon entering the lobby, you will feel like you’ve walked into a cartoon. Inspired by Seoul, South Korea’s black-and-white cartoon cafés, this is where visitors can escape from or prepare for color overload that await through the luminous Color Portal. Some galleries even evoke memories of deep-space movies from “Avatar” to “Alien.”

Forty “galaxies” immerse the senses in nine million LEDs, stunning colors and sound elements. The multi-dimension experience features film projections (111 projectors to be exact), holograms, misting, animation, 3D modeling, augmented reality, motion tracking, giant crochet swings, crawl spaces and digital games.

Visitors help activate the experiences using the Seismique mobile app, and by passing by 40 motion-tracking cameras. The vibe? From surreal and playful, to serene and wild.

At Alien Grass, a Seismique x Smooth Technology collaboration, glowing orbs change colors when touched. Festooned with curved mirrors and LEDs, it’s inspired by internationally acclaimed mirror artist Yayoi Kusama. (One of Kusama’s Infinity Rooms, Aftermath of Obliteration of Eternity, appears at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston.)

In the optical illusion room Acid Rain, visitors stroll through green water that rains spookily upward without getting wet. And, water-walls crafted by Mark Roberts encircle this alt-oasis. Visitors can also flow with cascades of graceful fantasy life forms on an icy faraway Jupiter moon at Europa, Aerica Raven’s 40-foot light dynamic mural.

“Steve Kopelman is a fantastic collaborator,” Raven said. “Not only was he willing to take a chance on my experimental art, he trusted my vision, even more than I did … installation artists don’t always experience such freedom of expression. I always felt Steve had my back.”

If you’re visiting with kids, let them crawl and romp at Venus Playground, a soft playscape crocheted by Japanese fiber artist Toshiko Horiuchi MacAdam. Then, forget the workday world at The Hub, illuminated by a million LED lights, where Houston artists Kai Ussin and Shokka created fantastical walls of murals.

“For the mural I made for The Hub,” said Shokka, “I wanted to create a fun, colorful, subversive, cartoony world that people could get lost in.” After working seven weeks using a two-inch paint brush on the larger-than-life artwork, Shokka said he “came out the other side more confident in my abilities as an artist and freelancer.” The gig provided financial security, allowing him to focus on art throughout the pandemic.

Everyone’s welcome to experience the magic of Seismique

Seismique offers entertainment for all ages, The exhibits are also ADA-accessible, and Seismique recently partnered with iUrban Teen to present STEAM programs to the community’s underprivileged and underserved.

Seismique is also a cool place to host birthday parties and other occasions. “We’ve had multiple engagements here, and inquiries from people wanting to get married on site,” Kopelman said.

Be aware: Those with light/photo sensitivities should avoid the flashing light spaces.

Helpful information to know about Seismique:

• Is there a guide to Seismique? Download the phone app, available for iOS and Android. The app guides you around the exhibits and allows you to manipulate displays. Simply navigate to the home screen and select the “map” icon. Use the app to activate various features and help you have the most fun during your visit. It’s like stepping into another dimension.
• Is there food? The lobby’s Cosmique Cafe offers food ranging from empanadas to cake pops, as well as non-alcoholic drinks. (No food or drink is permitted in the exhibit spaces). A themed bar and adjoining half-acre sculpture garden are currently in the works.
• Is there a special way to navigate Seismique? Do Seismique your way; the layout is free-form. Be on the lookout for displays sited in unexpected places, like the restrooms.
• Can groups visit together? It’s super fun to gather a group of friends, pick a time and purchase tickets in advance so that you can enter together. Arrive 15 minutes prior to the entry time listed on your ticket.
• How long is a visit to Seismique? Tour as long as you want; most visitors spend one-and-a-half to two hours experiencing Seismique. If you leave, you can’t re-enter.
• Can I take photos? You can take all the photos you want, but flash and professional photography/videography equipment aren’t allowed.
• What should I wear? Wear comfortable walking shoes; high heels aren’t permitted.
• What should I bring? Don’t bring strollers, backpacks, bulky photo equipment or luggage. They aren’t allowed inside and there’s no on-site storage or coat check.
• Is there parking? Parking is free and easy. It’s located right beside the building.
• When is Seismique open? Museum hours are listed here. (It’s closed on Tuesdays).
• How do I get tickets? Buy tickets in advance online. You may also purchase tickets at the door, but if it’s busy, you will need to wait for a later timed-entry period. Ordering tickets online guarantees your preferred time slot. Timed entry enables Seismique to limit how many people explore simultaneously, equating to a better experience. Discounts are available for groups of 10 or more. VIP tickets include expedited access to certain rooms on any date you’d like.

Find it: Seismique, 2306 S. Texas 6, Houston, TX 77077; 346-202-6006

This story was edited by Hearst Newspapers Managing Editor Kristina Moy; you can contact her at [email protected].