Newport’s beloved Umbrella Sky installation is set to make its colorful return this summer, bringing a fresh psychedelic twist to the city’s artistic landscape with its new “Tie Dye Sky” theme.
The popular public art installation, organized by nonprofit ArtScape, will transform Brick Market pedestrian street into a vibrant outdoor gallery featuring over 450 custom tie-dye-inspired umbrellas suspended overhead. The exhibit will run from mid-July through the end of October 2025, weather permitting.
This year’s installation celebrates the groovy energy of the 1970s with a modern digital aesthetic, thanks to internationally recognized experimental digital artist Halit Benli. ArtScape commissioned Benli, known for his fusion of pop art, surrealism, and vibrant digital design, to create custom tie-dye umbrella patterns that reimagine classic hippie design with contemporary flair.
“Our mission is to make art accessible to everyone, turning streets into canvases and cities into galleries,” said ArtScape, which transforms public spaces into joyful, art-filled experiences. The organization envisions a world where creativity is woven into daily life and shared in unexpected places.
Adding to the immersive experience, ArtScape will host its Summer Sound Sessions concert series on Saturdays and Sundays from 12 PM to 3 PM throughout the exhibit’s run. The free concerts will feature local musicians spanning genres from soulful jams to feel-good rock and funky beats, creating what organizers describe as a space for the community to move, mingle, and make memories under the colorful canopy.
The Brick Market pedestrian street serves as an ideal location for the installation, providing a pedestrian oasis and artistic hub in the heart of Newport. Both the art installation and concert series are free and open to the public.
ArtScape was founded by jewelry designer and artist David Medeiros as a nonprofit dedicated to enriching Newport’s cultural landscape through innovative public art projects and community events. The organization aims to develop Newport into a hub of creativity, making art an integral part of everyday life.
Visitors are encouraged to share their experiences on social media using the hashtags #UmbrellaSkyNewport, #TieDyeSky, #ArtScapeNewport, and #SummerConcertSeries. Updates about the installation can be found on Umbrella Sky’s Instagram and other social media channels.
As ArtScape puts it, this summer’s Umbrella Sky promises to be “a colorful oasis in the city” where art, music, and community come together under the psychedelic canopy of dancing umbrellas.