AURORA’s sixth biennial exhibition is set to take place on November 16, 2024 at Dallas City Hall and surrounding areas. Titled FuturePresentPast, it is curated by New York City-based artist and curator Kendal Henry and Austin- and Mexico City-based curator and writer Leslie Moody Castro. Together they work with regional and international artists to realize an expansive exhibition of technology-based public art.
With FuturePresentPast as the biennial theme, Henry and Moody Castro look into the past and various shared experiences of the North Texas region in order to shape our future through the present. Bridging disconnected communities, health advocacy, environmental sustainability, and urban transformation as a result of displacement and migration are some of the topics that will be addressed in the upcoming biennial. 

"AURORA 2024 will bring back our city's largest free public art event, continuing a 15-year mission ignited by a pair of Dallas artists and a civic leader who envisioned a future where North Texas would become a cultural capital for art and technology,” says AURORA Co-Founder/ Executive Director Joshua King.

“Our aim is to inspire a more accessible future where anyone, from any background, can have transformative and meaningful experiences with public art."

Participants of the 2024 AURORA Biennial are a diverse group of emerging and renowned artists who will experiment with sound, site-specificity, interactivity, and the digital. Through a unique, multi-sensory exhibition experience, they will propose new and varied perspectives on societal issues and engage the audience in enriching conversations about our shared past, present, and future. Learn more about the AURORA Biennial and its history here. 

Ahead of the event, be sure to also check our “Know Before You Go” page to ensure you will have the best possible experience.

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LOCATION

The AURORA Biennial is presented in Downtown Dallas across an expansive urban footprint, centered on the iconic I.M. Pei-designed Dallas City Hall. This unique convergence of art, architecture, and technology continues to give prominence to Dallas’ standing as an international contemporary art destination.

“Our aim is to be a city-wide project that expands through and beyond the scope of downtown Dallas. By shifting the central exhibition footprint, the artist will have a fresh canvas to work with, while bringing attention to an iconic public space in the city,” says AURORA Co-Founder Joshua King.

THEME

The AURORA Biennial is designed to create a welcoming space where people come together, leaving behind the divisions and conflicts of today's world. With the theme of FuturePresentPast, it reminds us that our shared humanity can help us overcome challenges. As cities rapidly change and we deal with political tension, post-pandemic uncertainty, and worries about the future—while still feeling nostalgic for the past—this event focuses on how we can connect with each other. It's about bringing communities together, discussing important issues like health, the environment, and how cities are changing due to displacement and migration ... read more

CURATORS

Kendal Henry (New York City) is an artist and curator who has over 30 years of experience in the field of public art. Through his projects, he illustrates that public art can be used as a tool for social engagement, civic pride, and economic development ... read more

Leslie Moody Castro (Austin/Mexico City) is a writer and curator committed to expanding the world of visual arts across borders by initiating moments of international connections and conversations. She has dedicated her professional career to opening the doors between Mexico and Texas ... read more

> DOWNLOAD THE full AURORA 2024: FuturePresentPast map HERE <

FuturePresentPast is made possible through the generous support of:

PAST WORLDS

To get a taste of past events, check out our AURORA 2018: Future Worlds trailer: