Devon Turnbull: HiFi Pursuit Listening Room Dream No. 3

Devon Turnbull's handcrafted high-fidelity audio system transforms the Carnegie Library into an immersive listening environment for experiencing music with exceptional sonic clarity.

Why go

The installation merges functional sculpture with audio engineering—Turnbull's monolithic speakers are designed to reveal the emotional and textural essence of music through natural, realistic sound. Daily programming rotates curated playlists (classical, ambient, jazz) alongside live operator sessions featuring musicians, archivists, and producers

What to expect

A large-scale custom audio system in the museum's historic Carnegie Library space, with seating options (floor seats with backs, benches) and optional shoe removal. Visitors experience either live-curated music sessions (Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, 1–4 p.m.) or rotating daily playlists; capacity is limited, with potential 15-minute time limits

Things to know

• Artist known professionally as OJAS, a Brooklyn-based audio engineer and multi-disciplinary artist.
• Installations have appeared at SFMOMA, Lisson Gallery, Nine Orchard Hotel, and Supreme stores worldwide.
• Part of the larger exhibition Art of Noise, organized by SFMOMA and curated by Joseph Becker.
• Live operators include musicians Nubya Garcia, Mary Halvorson, and record label curators like Gilles Peterson and Warp Records.
• Playlists feature classical works by Balmorhea, ambient pieces by Brian Eno, and seminal jazz from Verve Records.
• On view through July 19, 2026; no special ticketing required beyond general museum admission.

Plan your visit

Limited capacity; members get priority access and a dedicated line. Cell phones must be silenced, no talking. Shoes may be removed and stored. Non-commercial photography without flash is welcome. Accessibility resources including T-Coil headphones and priority line available—contact CHAccess@si.edu for details.

From the venue

Part of Art of Noise, the installation HiFi Pursuit Listening Room Dream No. 3 features a large scale, handmade, audio system by multi-disciplinary artist Devon Turnbull. Known under his creative pseudonym OJAS, Turnbull handcrafts high-fidelity audio systems designed to envelop the listener in sound that is as rich in texture as it is in emotion. The listening room will be activated throughout the run of the exhibition with sonic experiences curated by noted music collectors, archivists, audiophiles, and musicians from the New York area and beyond.