Deluxx Fluxx Origin Story
Conception and Exhibition
Deluxx Fluxx originated in 2010 as an innovative art installation, envisioned by Brooklyn-based artists FAILE (Patrick McNeil and Patrick Miller) and artist BÄST. Breaking away from traditional gallery norms, they crafted an interactive and fun experience that combined the worlds of arcade gaming and art – where art is not just seen but felt and interacted with. This immersive installation featured custom-programmed vintage arcade cabinets, adorned with original artwork and games imagined by FAILE, and the instantly iconic blacklight room. After captivating audiences at various venues and popups around the world, including Art Basel and Brooklyn Museum, Deluxx Fluxx evolved into a unique nightlife destination, maintaining its artistic roots while adding a dynamic club atmosphere.
Brooklyn Museum
July 10th - October 4th, 2015
The FAILE & BÄST Deluxx Fluxx Arcade
The FAILE & BÄST Deluxx Fluxx Arcade, created in collaboration with the Brooklyn artist Bäst, is an interactive installation that includes retrofitted video games, pinball machines, and foosball tables that are simultaneously sculptures and functioning games. A nostalgic nod to video arcades as well as to punk rock and graffiti culture, this is the fifth iteration of the project and the first time it will be installed in a museum context, following earlier versions in London, New York, Miami, and Edinburgh. Featuring the artists’ signature characters and imagery, these programmed games are twists on classic examples such as wrestling matches, road races, water-based challenges, tile-matching puzzles, and audio-visual manipulations.
Deluxx Fluxx Detroit
Below The Belt
Deluxx Fluxx's first manifestation as a permanent venue was in Downtown Detroit in the Summer of 2018. The venue occupies a once-unmarked basement along The Belt, a downtown back alley reimagined as a public art space with bars, restaurants, and art galleries in Detroit's former garment district where owners of acclaimed cocktail spots - Standby and The Skip, Joe Robinson, and Anthony Curis collaborated with FAILE to transform the exhibit into a brick and mortar music venue and nightclub with top-notch cocktails - a rare find in the nightlife scene.
The Detroit location consists of 3 main zones: an arcade room decked out with custom FAILE retro pinball, arcade cabinets, and air hockey, a large dance floor and bar in all black and white from the floor to ceiling, serving signature tap cocktails, and the famed blacklight room – a neon haven with communal vibes and glow-in-the-dark foosball.
The Detroit location of Deluxx Fluxx is divided into three distinctive areas: The first is an arcade room, fully equipped with custom FAILE retro pinball machines, arcade cabinets, and an air hockey table. Next, there's a spacious dance floor paired with a concrete poured bar, styled in striking black and white from floor to ceiling, where guests can enjoy our signature cocktails on tap. The third zone is the iconic blacklight room – a neon-drenched room offering a communal atmosphere and featuring glow-in-the-dark foosball.
Open Thursday 9PM - 2AM Friday + Saturday 8PM - 2AM
Detroit - The Belt, Downtown Detroit
1274 Library St., Detroit, MI 48226
Deluxx Fluxx NYC
Where SOUND meets VISION
Deluxx Fluxx's first manifestation as a permanent venue was in Downtown Detroit in the Summer of 2018. The venue occupies a once-unmarked basement along The Belt, a downtown back alley reimagined as a public art space with bars, restaurants, and art galleries in Detroit's former garment district where owners of acclaimed cocktail spots - Standby and The Skip, Joe Robinson, and Anthony Curis collaborated with FAILE to transform the exhibit into a brick and mortar music venue and nightclub with top-notch cocktails - a rare find in the nightlife scene.
The Detroit location consists of 3 main zones: an arcade room decked out with custom FAILE retro pinball, arcade cabinets, and air hockey, a large dance floor and bar in all black and white from the floor to ceiling, serving signature tap cocktails, and the famed blacklight room – a neon haven with communal vibes and glow-in-the-dark foosball.
The Detroit location of Deluxx Fluxx is divided into three distinctive areas: The first is an arcade room, fully equipped with custom FAILE retro pinball machines, arcade cabinets, and an air hockey table. Next, there's a spacious dance floor paired with a concrete poured bar, styled in striking black and white from floor to ceiling, where guests can enjoy our signature cocktails on tap. The third zone is the iconic blacklight room – a neon-drenched room offering a communal atmosphere and featuring glow-in-the-dark foosball.
Open Thursday to Saturday from 10 PM to 4 AM
Detroit - The Belt, Downtown Detroit
1274 Library St., Detroit, MI 48226
The Pop-ups
In our journey with Deluxx Fluxx, the pop-ups in West Hollywood during Frieze Week LA and New York City in 2019 have been meaningful milestones. Collaborating with Swizz Beatz and The Dean Collection, we sought to blend the vibrant realms of art, music, and culture.
The installations, inspired by early arcade culture, punk rock, hip-hop, and graffiti art were designed to be interactive and engaging. These pop-ups were our humble attempts to break down the barriers between the art and the audience, making each visitor an active participant in the creative process.
Our pop-ups, though fleeting—constructed in mere days and lasting just a few hours—were a reflection of our broader aspiration to build connection. In a world that often feels disconnected, we strived to create welcoming, inclusive spaces where art is not just something you observe but something you experience and enjoy together.
Who We Are
From its beginnings as an art installation to its present status as a nightlife destination, Deluxx Fluxx embodies the spirit of exploration, creativity, and sensory indulgence. With locations in Detroit and New York City, Deluxx Fluxx continues to evolve, offering unique experiences that blend art, music, games, drinks, and dance in an environment unlike any other.