Holographic Studios Inc. – New York, New York - Atlas Obscura

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Holographic Studios Inc.

The world's oldest hologram gallery and the labyrinthine laser laboratory of a holography pioneer. 

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Master holographer Jason Sapan has been making holographic images from a subterranean laser lab in the basement of his small storefront gallery for nearly 40 years. 

Holographic Studios’ proud founder Jason Sapan has been creating, selling, displaying and teaching holography since the 1960s, when he worked with Bell Laboratories to demonstrate new advances in laser technology for Time Inc., the very first public exhibition of holography in America. Working as the portrait holographer for New York’s (now closed) Museum of Holography for years, Sapan has had a slew of celebrity commissions; Andy Warhol, Bill Clinton, and Isaac Asimov are amongst the impressive list who have posed to have Sapan’s holograms made in their likeness. 

Today many of these celebrity portraits are on display within the holography gallery, along with the world’s largest collection of motion image holograms, cylindrical, multi-channel and computer generated holograms, novelty items and stickers.

Sapan is passionate about his craft and loves discussing the science of laser physics with visitors as well as showing off his work. The very lucky tourist may just get a special invitation to experience where all the holography magic occurs: beneath the shop in Sapan’s basement laboratory, a sci-fi lover’s dreamworld of labyrinthine passageways and beaming streams of laser light.

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May 13, 2014

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