About the Dome
More About the Dome
The Dome at Notsuoh is a one-of-a-kind immersive theater built inside a historic building in downtown Houston. Designed and constructed by artist and engineer Matthew Dougherty, the Dome began as a deeply personal experiment—an attempt to bring the wonder of immersive environments into new, more intimate settings.​
Matthew set out to create a dome that was not just functional, but beautiful, transportable, and full of possibility. He imagines domes not only in museums or planetariums, but in homes, businesses, and unconventional spaces—places where people can gather for sound, light, art, and shared experience.The Dome at Notsuoh is the first realization of that vision. Construction on the dome began in 2019 and what began as a prototype has grown into a working venue— hosting 360° video, experimental sound, performance, film, and dance.​
It’s an underground destination for artists and audiences alike, and a living space for testing and refining what domes can be.This Dome isn’t just a one-off—it's the beginning of something bigger. A place to explore what’s possible when immersive design meets human imagination.
Dome Features
​​The Dome at Notsuoh is a fully equipped immersive micro-venue, designed for flexibility, creativity, and impact. it includes,
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Seating & Layout:
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Seating for up to 25 audience members
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Configurable table and chair setup for writing workshops, meetings, or roundtable events
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Audio & Visual:
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Yamaha 5.2 surround sound system with Bluetooth, AirPlay, and HDMI
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Two 4K projectors:
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Standard projector (12-ft diagonal for traditional viewing)
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Custom fisheye projector with a lens system invented by Matt Dougherty, offering 270° immersive coverage
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Dual projection options: immersive wraparound or centered rectangular display
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Screen mirroring for live demos or online workshops
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3D video capability with glasses available for up to 15 guests
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Lighting & Atmosphere:
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DMX and Hubspace-controllable lighting system
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6–9 ADJ Mega Hex Par lights plus specialty fixtures for mood and effect
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Premium Cumaru hardwood flooring with cushioned underlayment​
Connectivity & Power:
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4K Apple TV, 2K Apple TV, Chromecast, and 4K DVD player
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External LCD display at entrance for pre-show visuals or signage
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Two 20-amp electrical circuits with computer-controlled AC sockets
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Comfort & Amenities:
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HVAC with 3 air vents for climate control
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Lockable storage, refrigerator, and espresso machine
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Electrified utility cart with AC, USB-A, and USB-C charging
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Camera/phone mounts, door curtains, and ante chamber for immersive transitions
The Team
Matt Dougherty
Dome Creator
Matt is a mathematician, technologist, artist, engineer, and the projectile behind The Dome at Notsuoh. Having careers spanning engineering, science, and entertainment, he has enjoyed innovative projects across industries including NASA's space shuttle avionics, electron microscopy, medical molecular imaging, NOAA climate & weather high-performance computing, chief engineer of KPFT, the producer of the Juneteenth Blues Festival broadcast on NPR, the producer of the Belizean DVD Garifuna Drum Method, collaborating with the Smithsonian Folkways, and inventing immersive visualizations.
His current playfulness centers on developing platforms for 360-filmmaking & virtual reality, understanding the biochemistry of amino acids, innovating aerated concrete, and using visualization for science and the arts. By creating tools and infrastructure for interactive exploration and artistic expression, he blends his perspectives of technical expertise and imagination, to fathom his curiosities in business, culture, science, medicine, music, and dance movement, through open-ended collaborations and personal lifelong jaunts.
He frequently tests new ideas by building and destroying systems, to define the physical limits, individual character, and social ethics of how we utilize science and art as culture.
Artist, Curator and Director of Programming
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Julia is a Houston-based performance artist, curator, and director with a Master’s degree in Arts Leadership from the University of Houston. Her work focuses on social sculpture and creating immersive, community-driven art experiences that bring people together in meaningful and unexpected ways.
She has directed large-scale festivals and events, including the internationally recognized Experimental Action performance art festival, and has collaborated with leading institutions such as the Mitchell Center for the Arts' CounterCurrent Festival, DiverseWorks, and the Orange Show. A
s a performer, she has presented work across the U.S. and internationally, including performances in New York, Leipzig, Germany and Pittsburgh.
Julia is known for cultivating experimental art communities and creating platforms where artists can grow, connect, and take creative risks.
i1150n
Sound & Visual Artist
DJ I1150n is a sound technician, video artist, and longtime contributor to Houston’s underground art scene. Originally from Los Angeles, he left a career in film and television to pursue a more hands-on, community-rooted creative life in Houston. Now a key collaborator at The Dome at Notsuoh, he brings deep expertise in both analog and digital media, helping shape immersive environments through sound and video.
As a DJ and artist, his sets blend jungle, house, and experimental electronic textures with a focus on rhythm and emotional depth. He’s known for his ability to move between genres seamlessly and for supporting other local artists through collaboration and technical know-how. A frequent presence at events throughout the building long before the Dome existed, DJ I1150n is not just part of the team—he’s part of the fabric. Outside the booth, he’s a dedicated uncle, a lover of analog gear, and someone who helps make art happen, both behind the scenes and on the main stage.
Notsuoh
A Living Work of Art in the
Heart of Downtown Houston
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Located in a historic building on Main Street, Notsuoh is one of Houston’s most iconic and unconventional bars. Owned and operated by performance artist Jim Pirtle, Notsuoh is more than just a nightlife spot—it’s an evolving social sculpture designed to spark connection, curiosity, and wonder. Known for its surreal, ever-changing art installation, the space is a collision of taxidermy, local art, family heirlooms, and Houston history, all carefully curated and constantly reimagined by Jim himself.
A longtime fixture in Houston’s experimental art scene, Pirtle once gained notoriety for absurdist performance works—most infamously involving mayonnaise. These days, he’s more likely to be found engaging travelers and locals in conversations about art and philosophy amid his ever-shifting installation.
Now a family-run business, Notsuoh serves finely crafted cocktails in an atmosphere that rewards curiosity and invites exploration. It’s a haven for adventurous nightlife lovers and a rare home for experimental art projects that couldn’t exist anywhere else.
The Dome at Notsuoh lives upstairs because Jim welcomed an experimental space into his own experimental space. Notsuoh didn’t just make room for the Dome—it nourished it. As a host, collaborator, and living structure, Notsuoh offers fertile ground for The Dome to grow into itself, providing the perfect environment for immersive art to evolve in dialogue with its surroundings. Together, they form a layered, living ecosystem of art, sound, light, and human connection in the heart of Houston.
