At the center of the 81st Street Studio is a tree-like structure with a digital station inviting visitors of all ages to create and play. Using camera vision and projection, the station offers two interactive activities. First, visitors can carve their own “woodblock” and create virtual “impressions” with various colors, patterns, and attributes. The second activity guides visitors to design physical drums and use digital tools to play them in different musical styles.

The back wall of the space features an immersive, multi-user visual playground celebrating artists' use of light and color. This installation includes a dynamic projection wall and light table where children can experiment with patterns and art images. They explore optics, light behavior, and properties through modes like color, shadow, and distortion, creating unique and mesmerizing visual displays.

Understanding the scientific properties and artistic potential of materials provides a fantastic entry point for children to appreciate art. Integrated within a curving form are interactive touchscreens exploring three materials: clay, metal, and wood. Each screen offers engaging activities for children to compare materials, discover fun facts about their properties, and see real-world examples of how artists use them. An adjacent microscope lets children examine these materials up close, encouraging close observation and scientific investigation.

Hidden throughout the space are what Heidi Holder, the museum’s Chair of Education, calls 'subtle magic.' These unexpected visual surprises reward discovery and close observation. Small eyes peer out from unexpected places; as visitors approach, the eye blinks and reveals a delightful surprise from The Met collection. These displays evoke the experience of visiting the full museum, where there is always more to discover and explore.