WaterWork, Austin’s beloved immersive art experience on Lady Bird Lake, returns Friday and Saturday, September 25 and 26. For two evenings, large-scale projection mapping will transform the historic Seaholm Intake Facility into a canvas of art, light, and sound.

Co-created by The Trail Conservancy and Design Austin, with the Texas Water Development Board as this year’s presenting sponsor, the free public event celebrates the relationship between Austin’s urban landscape, its creative community, and the natural environment.

Centered on the theme of Transformation, this year’s works consider Austin as a city in constant motion. Through reflections on nature, memory, identity, and place, the artists ask what endures, what emerges, and how the meeting of old and new can create something vibrant and unexpected. The setting itself deepens the theme: the Seaholm Art Moderne building once served as the pump house for the Seaholm Power Plant and now stands as a preserved landmark.

The program’s first open call for artists drew nearly 90 submissions, its largest applicant pool to date. The 15 selected works were created by 23 artists working independently and in collaborative teams: Alexis Hunter; Beili Liu; Bethany Johnson; Brandon Stargrave; Brian Skalak; Cathy Le; Chris Tobar Rodriguez; Essentials Creative; Hillerbrand+Magsamen; Lauren Schroeder; Mandy Mandelstein; Terra Henderson; Lisa B. Woods and Jerome Martinez; Taylor Speed and Greg D’Amico; and Eric Schoenborn, Mishka Westell and Jesse Ebaugh.

“WaterWork offers a glimpse of what’s possible at the Seaholm Waterfront,” said Julie Fisher, CEO of The Trail Conservancy. “For two evenings, this historic landmark transforms into a place where art, nature and community come together in unexpected ways. It’s a preview of our long-term vision for Seaholm as a vibrant waterfront destination where people gather, discover something new and connect with Austin’s transformative history and culture.”

WaterWork begins at dusk each evening and is free to view from several points along the Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail, including Auditorium Shores and the Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge.

“The response from Austin’s creative community was extraordinary, with nearly 90 proposals submitted this year,” said Ingrid Spencer, executive director of Design Austin. “The selected artists explore what it means to live in a city that’s constantly evolving while honoring the stories and places that define it. Experiencing those ideas projected onto one of Austin’s most iconic historic structures creates a powerful conversation between past, present and future.”

Support from the Texas Water Development Board reflects the central role water plays in the health and future of communities across Texas. WaterWork is also supported in part by the City of Austin Economic Development Department.

Don’t miss your chance to experience the magic!