Tokyo-based interdisciplinary art collective teamLab will open its first U.S. museum at OCVibe in Anaheim in 2030. The announcement was shared by Henry Samueli at Visit Anaheim’s recent event, The OCVIBE Impact: Powering Anaheim’s New Chapter.
The Oct. 29 event presented updates on the future of Anaheim’s 100-acre mixed-use development in the area surrounding Honda Center, including details on the new immersive digital museum.
“We were in Japan a couple years ago and we went on a tour of teamLab, and were blown away. We had never seen anything like it anywhere. ” said Samueli. “It is one the most unique art museums you will ever come across.”
Founded in 2001 by Toshiyuki Inoko and Shunsuke Aoki, teamLab is designed with the intention of taking art beyond a single frame or even a single room by creating a “borderless world” built by collaborating artists, programmers, engineers, CG animators, mathematicians and architects.
A rendering of teamLab at OCVibe in Anaheim.
(Courtesy of OCVibe)
“For teamLab, through art, we seek to explore what perception is and what existence is,” Inoko said in a statement. “The artworks change with the presence of people, making them an integral part of the art itself. People immerse themselves with their entire bodies, transcending the boundaries between themselves, the artworks, and the world around them, becoming part of a borderless continuity.”
The teamLab museum will be an integral part of OCVibe’s master plan, joining other culture-centered experiences like a concert hall, an outdoor public art exhibition and more.
The event also shared findings from Visit Anaheim’s latest white paper, “From Arenas to Neighborhoods: How Sports Is Driving a New Generation of Mixed-Use Development,” and included a discussion panel with AIA Orange County president Melody Tang, sports and economics journalist Peter Keating, Dan Young, executive director of development at OCVibe; Aaron Teats, president of Anaheim Ducks Hockey Club; Julie Rinaldi, senior architect at Populous and chef Roy Choi.
A discussion panel talks about future goals for OCVibe in Anaheim.
(Grant Romancia)
The panel discussed the future of OCVibe and how the group would like to see the space take shape, organically.
“The world’s eye is going to turn toward Anaheim with this project and the food of Orange County is going to be broadcast throughout the world. I want to put that on display as best we can,” said Choi, who will bring his Las Vegas restaurant concept, Best Friend to OCVibe.
Attendees got a taste of what’s to come at OCVibe’s market hall, Katella Commons, with bites served from some future tenants. The 50,000-square-foot market hall will include 21 chef-driven dining options along with six original bar and lounges. OCVibe also announced even more food concepts joining the growing list of offerings at the impact event.
OCVibe offered a tastes of what’s to come at Katella Commons during a ReConnect event at ARTIC on Oct. 29.
(Sarah Mosqueda)
Chef Wedchayan “Deau” Arpapornnopparat, known for his Los Angeles-based restaurant Holy Basil, will open a brand new concept, Golden Mountain Chicken, at Katella Commons in early 2027. Golden Mountain Chicken is centered around a menu of Thai fried chicken and noodles and the Bangkok street food traditions Arpapornnopparat grew up with.
Additionally, husband-and-wife duo chef Michael and Kwini Reed of Anaheim’s Poppy & Seed and L.A.’s Poppy & Rose will bring two new garden-inspired concepts to Katella Commons, including an all-day breakfast destination.
For more on what is developing at OCVibe, go to ocvibe.com.