diving into jared pike's imaginary liminal interiors & pool dreamscapes

Jared Pike creates mesmerizing 3D pool room art

Since 2020, New York-based 3D artist Jared Pike has been creating mesmerizing pool room settings, taking the social media world by storm. The evocative digital art series transports viewers to dreamlike indoor swimming pool environments, characterized by serene blue-green waters, pristine white tiles, and intricate architectural details. Illuminated by enchanting interplays of light and shadow, Pike’s creations evoke a sense of eerie nostalgia, blurring the boundary between dreams and reality.

In an interview with designboom, Jared Pike reveals that his Dream Pools project originated from a fascination with vaporwave and liminal aesthetics. Inspired by Act Romegialli’s La Piscina del Roccolo, featuring a sunken pavilion with an indoor swimming pool, Pike embarked on a consistent journey of crafting dreamy pool environments. The response to his artwork varies among Instagram commenters, with some likening the images to scenes from their own dreams. Many perceive them as peaceful and serene, yet others find an eerie aspect within them. ‘It’s supposed to be a little bit of all of those,’ Pike tells us. To delve deeper into Pike’s 3D creations, read the interview in full below.

all images courtesy of Jared Pike

interview with jared pike

designboom (DB): How did you come up with the idea for your ‘dream pool’ project? Why pools?

Jared Pike (JP): From my early days of delving into 3D software, I found myself captivated by two themes in the digital art realm: vaporwave and liminal aesthetics. Both genres frequently incorporate pool scenes, so mastering them quickly became a personal goal.

In creating the second installment in the series, my focus was on recreating a photograph of Roccolo’s Swimming Pool. While experimenting with lighting, the discovery of using warm sunlight, especially when juxtaposed with unlit corners, emerged as the uncanny formula that defined the visual language for the rest of the series.

blue-green waters, pristine white tiles, and intricate architectural details complete the Dream Pools series

DB: What feelings do you want people to have when they see your series? Some say there’s a dark/creepy aspect to your illustrations. Do you agree?

JP: The series is primarily about the intersection of nostalgia and eeriness. Featuring familiar plain white tiles reminiscent of the pools from our childhood, the intentional use of unlit and shadowed areas adds a creepy dimension not commonly seen in real life. I’ve gotten a wide variety of reactions, from ‘I’ve been here before in my dreams’, to ‘this is the most peaceful looking place’ to ‘this is horrifying.’ It’s supposed to be a little bit of all of those.

Pike’s creations blur the boundary between dreams and reality

DB: You’ve reached 42 dream pools. Do you plan to stop? If so, at what number?

JP: I’ve got no plans to stop, but I’m sure I’ll hit a limit eventually, as there are only so many unique configurations I can come up with. I only contribute to the series when I feel like I can add something novel or meaningful to it.

DB: Are there other spatial elements or themes you are considering exploring in the future?

JP: I’m always looking to improve my water simulations, as that’s a particularly challenging part of the process. Separately, I’ve been exploring motion graphics and animations for live show visuals.

many perceive the works as peaceful and serene, yet others find an eerie aspect within them