Existing at the intersection of art and technology, The Aurora is a 29-foot-tall, 720-pound experiential sculpture in which both human interaction and weather patterns create swirling displays of color and light. The title references the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights—naturally occurring light phenomena visible in the northern sky during the fall and winter months. Inspired by the beauty and complexity of these organic light forms, Jen Lewin programmed The Aurora to change color based on the live weather in Minneapolis. Below the sculpture, eight interactive platforms respond to touch, encouraging visitors to actively participate in an ever-changing composition. Uniting nature, humanity, and technology, Lewin’s work underscores the dynamic interplay between people and the environment.

The Aurora features hundreds of color palettes and more than 10,000 interactive LEDs programmed to reflect the shifting seasons and real-time weather conditions in Minneapolis. The sculpture’s form consists of 23,000 aluminum rings shaped into a delicate, honeycomb-like structure that evokes the solar wind patterns that create the Aurora Borealis in nature. Attached to the frame are 2,667 hand-blown glass bulbs, each containing three light-emitting diodes that bring the piece to life with movement and illumination.

Completed in 2021, The Aurora was jointly commissioned by the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) and the Airport Foundation MSP. A 16-member Blue Ribbon Artist Selection Panel chose Lewin for the project in recognition of her extensive experience creating interactive new media sculptures that invite public participation and connection.