One of the most distinctive features of the David Geffen Galleries is its perimeter wrapped by floor-to-ceiling glass windows, framing panoramic outdoor views that bring art into conversation with the surrounding city. For curators and conservators, however, the transparency of the building also raised concerns about any light-sensitive art installed in the terrace galleries.
To find a way to protect those artworks while preserving exterior views, LACMA enlisted internationally renowned Tokyo-based textile designer Reiko Sudō, who has collaborated with architects on numerous projects. Understanding the relationship between the building and the landscape, Sudō began testing textiles that could be both light-protective but also transparent.
When a sputter-plated stainless steel textile did not pass the fire retardant test, Sudō hypothesized that chrome—which does not burn—would likely pass. The sputter-plated chrome textile that emerged from Sudō’s experimentation has a metallic sheen but is transparent, providing an impressionistic view of the landscape.
Created especially for the museum, LACMA × NUNO Sputtered Chrome matte and gloss textiles are now installed as curtains in the David Geffen Galleries. When draped in two layers, they create a moiré, mimicking the different shades in the poured concrete walls while still protecting artwork displayed in the galleries. The sputtered chrome textiles will also be featured in Textile Alchemy: The Art of Reiko Sudō and NUNO, the artist’s retrospective at LACMA opening on September 20, 2026.
A version of this article was first published in the spring 2026 issue of LACMA's Insider magazine.