Let me start out by saying that Vincent Van Gogh is my favorite artist. There is something magical about the way that he painted, that I always found to be not only to mesmerized my mind but also my soul. When I visited Amsterdam a few years ago, the first stop on our trip was the Van Gogh museum. Now, I am usually not a big museum person, don’t ask me how this is possible since I literally have a degree in history but there has always been something a bit off-putting about looking at significant historical, cultural, or artistic elements behind thick glass or under the stringent stares of guards.

So when I learned about the Van Gogh Immersive Experience and that it was actually coming to my city, excitement was an understatement. As I looked further into the vague description and even more non-existent location, my critical mind began to question is this legit? Or as my best friend stated, “Since they aren’t disclosing the location, I feel as though I may get murdered”. I waited a few weeks to see if any additional information was released and unfortunately it was not. My amazing husband decided to take matters into his own hands and purchase us tickets for my birthday. 

Firstly, I am happy to report that I in fact did not get murdered and the location that they chose in Pittsburgh was a unique old warehouse-style building that fit the event perfectly. Though I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect from the event (minus a few clips that I had seen on the internet), I was pleasantly surprised. When we purchased our tickets they were timed, but we opted to pay a little more for the flex tickets which allowed us to enter 2 hours before or after our actual time, this was a lifesaver since there was a Steelers home game which made getting into that part of the city a bit of a nightmare. 

Once we got through security and the ticketing staff we were ushered into a dark room, with various chairs and benches, there was instrumental music playing in the background and the walls were illuminated with the art of Van Gogh, as the music progressed the art morphed from one masterpiece to the next in a completely artistic fashion, with brushes of paint strokes it was as though each piece was being created before your eyes. The seamless transition between the art was breathtakingly transporting you from one beautiful location to another. The projections danced from the walls to the floor, filling your senses with artistry.  All four walls were projecting the same images at the same time so you were able to focus solely on the area that you were facing and not have to move or adjust to feel as though you were getting the full experience.  While watching, I was transported to my time in Paris, the small winding streets, the small cafes, it at some times felt more like a long-lost memory instead of a tribute to an artist that the world lost too soon. 

This exhibit is perfect for those who are Van Gogh lovers or novices, I loved that they didn’t just focus on his well-known pieces like Starry Night but also some of his more obscure pieces that many may have not been exposed to. This immersive experience is truly a once-in-a-lifetime event that brings art into a whole new format and dimension, I for one hope to see this style mimicked by other artists in the future.