LOOK UP Times Square plans Tokyo push after Venice Biennale run

LOOK UP Times Square is expanding into Tokyo as founder and curator Rachel D. Vancelette begins a July 25-Aug. 6 cultural tour to seek partnerships with Japanese institutions, artists and creative groups. The move builds on the initiative's Venice Biennale presentation and aims to extend the public art project’s global reach into Asia.

Why it matters: - LOOK UP Times Square is trying to turn a New York-based public art project into a broader international platform. - The Tokyo tour is the first step toward potential public art partnerships in Japan. - The expansion builds on momentum from the project's presentation in Venice and its origins on Times Square billboards.

What happened: - Founder and curator Rachel D. Vancelette is traveling to Tokyo from July 25-Aug. 6 for meetings with cultural institutions, galleries, artists and creative organizations. - The visit is aimed at exploring future opportunities to bring LOOK UP's immersive public art experience to Japan. - The initiative began on the digital billboards of Times Square and asks viewers: "What does LOOK UP mean to you?"

The details: - LOOK UP features one-minute vertical creative films with interactive QR codes. - The project links public viewership to a digital archive of stories about resilience, hope, creativity and shared humanity. - LOOK UP includes artists, designers, performers, filmmakers, chefs, cultural leaders, hospitality leaders and innovators from around the world. - Vancelette's return to Japan is her first since 2011. - After the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami, Vancelette traveled to Tokyo during the recovery period and later curated "Reflections" at fordPROJECT in New York. - "Reflections" presented Japanese painters and was featured by The New York Observer. - Support from galleries including Tomio Koyama helped shape Vancelette's ongoing cultural work with Japan. - LOOK UP debuted in New York on Thanksgiving Day 2025. - The project then moved to Venice after an invitation from the European Cultural Centre to join Personal Structures at Palazzo Mora during the 61st International Art Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia. - The Venice exhibition remains open through Nov. 22 and includes more than 40 videos and artworks. - Participants include Japanese model and artist muse Mie Iwatsuki. - Other listed contributors tied to Japan include photographer Michel Haddi, whose 1990 exhibition "The Face" was held in Kobe, and choreographer Jacqulyn Buglisi, who has worked in Japan with Rossella Vasta at Tokyo's Shiodome Italia Creative Center. - More than 100 international creative voices are participating, including Andy Gotts, Ray Fearon and Angela Nickolau. - Nathan Brujis is part of LOOK UP's international advisory community, and his work is presented in a new catalogue with Snap Collective.

Between the lines: - LOOK UP is positioning art as a cultural bridge between New York, Tokyo and Venice. - Vancelette is linking the project to her humanitarian work as a Global Peace Ambassador for The Perfect World Foundation. - The emphasis on digital public art and immersive storytelling suggests LOOK UP is looking for formats that travel easily across cities and audiences.

What's next: - Vancelette and the LOOK UP team will discuss digital public art, immersive storytelling, cultural programming and institutional partnerships during the Tokyo tour. - The project will keep building its international advisory community. - LOOK UP will end its Venice program with an invitation-only conference on Nov. 21-22, 2026.