Locust Projects presents Blackstar, a monumental intermedia installation by artist Tomas Vu. Taking its name from David Bowie’s critically-acclaimed final album, Blackstar features an interactive geodesic dome and multimedia environment inspired by the cultural and artistic legacy of David Bowie, as well as a series of public programs and performances that draw on Bowie’s influence across disciplines.

Central to the installation is a geodesic dome inspired by the work of futurist architect Buckminster Fuller, a recurrent motif in Vu’s practice, serving as a platform for projection mapping and a site for continuous visitor engagement. The hexagonal panels of the dome display constantly shifting collages of still images and video from Vu’s extensive archive, algorithmically generated to create an evolving visual experience. This dynamic presentation of images reflects Bowie’s role as a cultural “mixer,” blending genres, ideas, and influences into new forms. Inside the dome, visitors can engage with a vinyl sound deck, selecting tracks that shape the auditory landscape of the installation. Combined with sensors that respond to audience movement, the installation transforms into a living, responsive environment, emblematic of Bowie’s ethos of collaboration and constant reinvention.

About the Artist

Tomas Vu (b. 1963, Saigon, Vietnam) is a New York-based, Vietnamese-born artist and printmaker whose work investigates themes of memory, displacement, and the intersections of personal and collective trauma. Through intricate prints, large-scale installations, and multidisciplinary projects, Vu’s work examines the complexities of identity and the human condition, shaped by his experience as a refugee from Vietnam. His approach often blends traditional printmaking techniques with experimental forms, resulting in dynamic, layered compositions that engage with history and the subconscious.

Vu has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Guggenheim Fellowship (2002), the Joan Mitchell Foundation Fellowship (2001), and the Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation Prize (2018). His work has garnered international renown, earning him the Audience Award for Best Artist at the 30th Biennial of Graphic Arts in Ljubljana, Slovenia (2016), as well as participation in major residencies such as the Sharpe-Walentas Studio Program (2015) and the John Michael Kohler Arts Center’s Arts/Industry Residency (2018).

Vu’s work has been exhibited internationally, with solo presentations at institutions including the Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, Museo d’Arte Contemporanea di Roma, Guangdong Museum of Art, and the Vietnam Fine Arts Museum. His work has also been featured in major group exhibitions at the Museum of Modern Art, New York; Contemporary Arts Museum Houston; and the Asia Society, New York. His artwork is held in prominent collections, including the Museum of Modern Art, New York; Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; Art Institute of Chicago; Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C.; and Guangdong Museum of Art.

In addition to his artistic practice, Vu has served as professor at Columbia University’s School of the Arts since 1996, where he co-founded the LeRoy Neiman Center for Print Studies. As the Artistic Director, he oversees the Center’s mission to support innovation in printmaking and provides access to advanced facilities and workspace for artists. Under his leadership, the Neiman Center has become an incubator for experimentation, collaboration, and the exploration of new approaches to contemporary printmaking.