What’s more exciting than an international art show with groundbreaking light-based installations? A simultaneous art show on the grounds of the Formula 1 United States Grand Prix, of course. This weekend, the world’s most innovative art will mingle with the excitement of the world’s premier motorsports event right here in Central Texas.

In parallel with POP Austin’s downtown light-based art show “Illumination” Oct 22-25, POP will host a satellite art show for all F1 ticket holders amidst the excitement of the races at the Circuit of The Americas (COTA) track.

The satellite art show at COTA features artists from around the world including Andy Warhol, Richard Orlinski, Micky Hoogendijk, Desire Obtain Cherish and Shane Guffogg, while the downtown “Illumination” is at Fair Market on Austin’s east side.

If you’re an art enthusiast or collector then be sure to catch Illumination’s Thursday night VIP opening party, which will include “Late Speculation,” a performance piece by renowned light artist duo NONOTAK. Noemi Schipfer and Takami Nakamoto who make up NONOTAK will present the American premiere of two works at POP Austin.

Tickets for the grand soiree are $200, while weekend passes for Friday through Sunday downtown are $40 per person. Bonus: kids 12 and under are free with a ticketed adult.

This year’s addition of Art Alliance Austin as a POP partner brings a free early Friday evening event open to the public. POP Talks will be at the North Door, where AAA’s executive director, and passionate arts proponent, Asa Hursh will moderate a discussion with an impressive line-up of global contemporary artists.

Featuring some of the world’s most prominent light artists including Carlo Bernardini, Hans Kotter, Jeongmoon Choi, Nonotak and Adela Andea, Illumination promises to be an interactive and immersive atmosphere for guests of all ages over a range of media from projection, laser to neon, LED, hologram and ultraviolet.

By Julie Tereshchuk

Images courtesy POP Austin