Image: Blanton Museum of Art, Austin
The Blanton Museum of Art in Austin will mark the closing of its first-ever digital exhibition, 'Run the Code: Data-Driven Art', with an after-hours event called 'B Scene: Buffering Reality' on July 24, 2026, from 7 to 11 p.m. The museum says the party will bring together electronic music, interactive art, and early-2000s nostalgia for a one-night celebration tied to the exhibition’s final day.
According to the museum’s program page and email announcement, 'B Scene' is a recurring late-night format at the Blanton that invites visitors to spend a night at the museum. The institution describes it as “Austin’s favorite art party” and says the program takes place three times a year, with live music, food, drinks, art tours, dancing, and extended hours. For this edition, the museum is pairing the event directly with the closing of 'Run the Code: Data-Driven Art'.
The program’s music lineup includes synth pop trio Night Drive and DJ Ian Orth. The Blanton is also planning a set of temporary activations and hands-on experiences throughout the museum, extending the event beyond a standard concert or reception. The museum frames the evening as a chance to “rewind to the digital age,” and the event’s promotional language emphasizes glitches, screens, and the atmosphere of the early aughts.
Among the featured installations is 'Where the Future Hides Its Face', an interactive laser installation inspired by the techno-optimism of the early 2000s and created by artist and UT professor Kyle Evans. Another activation, 'y2k.scr rip.mix.print', is described as a space where visitors can move through Y2K Frutiger Aero screensavers and take home a thermal-printed screenshot decorated like a ticket stub from the future; that work is credited to artist Mavyn Vu.
The evening also includes a one-night-only Pop-Up Print Exhibition titled 'Uprooting Reality: Real and Imagined Ecosystems', which the museum says will feature artists representing different “realities.” In addition to the art activations, the Blanton lists a tech-themed scavenger hunt through the galleries, opportunities to create art based on algorithms, a video-rental-store nostalgia activation with We Luv Video, and a Y2K costume contest.
The museum says Blanton members receive discounted admission, parking, and access to a members-only lounge for the event, and that members will also receive 20% off store purchases that night as part of Member Appreciation Month. General admission is listed at $30 for ages 18 and up and $10 for ages 6 to 17, while member admission is $20 for ages 18 and up and $5 for ages 6 to 17. The museum notes that regular discounts such as UT-Austin ID holder, military, K-12 teacher, student, and senior rates do not apply to special events.
Support for 'B Scene' at the Blanton is provided in part by KUTX.
