History + Mission

The Invisible Dog Art Center is housed in a three-story former factory building in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn. Built in 1863, our 30,000 square foot facility was the site of various industrial endeavors, most notably a belt factory that manufactured the famous Walt Disney invisible dog party trick, after which our center is named. The building remained dormant from the mid 1990s until 2009, when our founder Lucien Zayan opened The Invisible Dog.

The Invisible Dog is dedicated to the integration of innovation in the arts with profound respect for the past. In 2009, the building was restored for safety reasons, but special attention was given to the preservation of its original 1863 form. The rawness of the space is vital to our identity.

The ground floor is used for exhibitions, performances, and public events featuring visual artists, performers, and curators from around the world. This floor also includes a store, a home for independent and commercial designers in various fields.

The second and third floors are divided into over 30 artists’ studios and are integral to the vast creative community of The Invisible Dog.

Established in 2019, la Salle A Manger (SAM) is a private dining room designed by resident artist Anne Mourier, adorned with artworks and with an open kitchen where Lucien Chef Ambition concocts in front of you sophisticated and creative meals elaborated with attention. When you book a lunch or a dinner, or any event, 100% of the proceeds go to the artistic program at The Invisible Dog. It’s like a fundraising gala dinner but only with guests you love and much better food.

Here, art and architecture feed off each other organically. The artists who walk through our doors infuse our space with their creative energy and make

The Invisible Dog Art Center a unique home for the arts.

The ID Art Center is a 501(c)(3) | EIN 47-3931963