If you grew up flipping through “I SPY” books, Atlanta has the perfect fall adventure waiting for you. The High Museum of Art is presenting “I SPY! Walter Wick’s Hidden Wonders,” the largest exhibition ever devoted to the photographic illustrator behind those beloved picture-riddle books — and it is every bit as joyful as it sounds.
More than 80 works spanning 50 years fill the galleries with miniature worlds, optical illusions and seek-and-find puzzles. Wick hand-builds tiny sets from everyday objects — toy cities, floating blocks, dreamy clouds — then photographs them into images that have delighted readers of all ages since 1992.
The show goes far beyond the famous book pages: it includes rarely seen early photographs and the actual three-dimensional models Wick uses to create his pictures, revealing the clever craft behind the magic. It is also the first exhibition in the High’s popular children’s book series to feature photography as its main medium.
Open August 28, 2026 through January 3, 2027 at 1280 Peachtree St NE, the exhibition is made for families — children love the playful challenges, and grown-ups will feel a warm wave of happy nostalgia. Plan your visit at high.org and get ready to look closely: every corner hides a wonder. Happy City News loves a museum day that brings the whole family together.
Photo: High Museum of Art (Walter Wick, “City Blocks,” from “I SPY Fantasy,” 1994; © Walter Wick)
