Gesso - Immersive Audio Guides

Gesso is an arts and culture app for travel across the world or around the corner. Our location-based audio content reimagines the way we travel both near and far.

Named after the priming layer of paint that must first be applied to a canvas before crafting a masterpiece, Gesso makes audio-first, geo-responsive digital guides that go under the surface of a city.

We present the world’s hidden gems through exclusive original content, a curated selection of the best podcasts, and official audio guides through the storied cultural institutions and forgotten corners of the world’s most famous cities.

Special Features:

*Autoplay - Put on your headphones, enable autoplay, and let geotagged stories scattered throughout the city automatically play as you pass by historical statues, overlooked architecture, public art, and other neighborhood secrets. This feature is currently available for New York.

*Accessibility - Our content includes transcripts and translations in 10 languages, designed for a mobile experience that advances our understanding of culture and society with the least amount of barriers.

*A Curated Touch - We’ve listened to hundreds of podcasts episodes so you don’t have to. We make sure that the podcasts we recommend and the audio we produce are impactful, informative, and inspiring, allowing you to follow your curiosity and celebrate human creativity around the world.

Gesso In Action:

*Go For A Walk
Consider us your digital friend that can always show you the most interesting places to explore. Beginning with the streets of New York City and Brooklyn, we’re producing audio tours that uncover...
-Nature, mindfulness, and history in Brooklyn’s Prospect Park
-Hipsterism and the history of local businesses in Williamsburg, Brooklyn
-The history of the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge
And more!

Every neighborhood has a story to tell. Our self-guided walking tours are also a great way to get outside and explore local neighborhoods while social distancing.

*Visit A Museum
No need for communal devices or guessing what that painting means. Our exhibition audio guides are easy, accessible, and personal. Whether you’re visiting in person or exploring an exhibition remotely, you can access our digital audio guides at any time.

No robotic voices here, listen to the curators and artists themselves reflect on the paintings, photographs, and sculptures in front of you.

Hear stories from 50+ institutions including New Museum, International Center of Photography (ICP), Queens Museum, Oakland Museum of California, and Pollock-Krasner House.

*Discover Something New
Our audio content illuminates the nearby hidden history surrounding you.

With 500+ audio snippets and curated podcasts geotagged throughout New York City, you’ll have short-form and long-form options to hear about historic buildings, community activism, architecture, local legends, and more. Hear the stories of the city on-site or listen remotely!

You can also discover podcasts in 9 other cities including London, Paris, Los Angeles, and Washington D.C.