Material Sound was the most visited exhibition outside of MAMA's first three months of operation, beating Marilyn and Sidney Nolan.

It attracted 24,510 people across 79 days, including thousands who took part in projects such as a sound and laser show at St Matthew's Church, and a kids' bio-synthesiser workshop.

Curated by Caleb Kelly, the contemporary exhibition explored sound and featured numerous kinetic works.

An expanded version of the original exhibition opens at 5.30pm on June 7, U.S. time, at the Black Mountain College Museum and Arts Centre.

MAMA Director Bree Pickering was sponsored by the Gordon Darling Foundation to travel to North Carolina and has spent the past week helping with set-up.

Ms Pickering's links with the Museum and Arts Centre extend back to her time working in Philadelphia, when she met the centre's director, Jeff Arnal.

"I knew Jeff was a fan of Caleb Kelly's work as an academic and author, so I approached him about taking Material Sound when MAMA first programmed it," she said.

"It's such an important museum for the history of experimental art, and they recognised Material Sound is what contemporary, cutting-edge artwork looks like.

"It was important for me personally to ensure our work is shared internationally because, having worked in the U.S., I know Australian art is very good but often overlooked."

Ms Pickering believed the exhibition has been received so well because of how engaging it is.

"The artists use very lo-fi technologies to capture our attention and provide a whole-of-body experience for the viewer," she said.

IN OTHER NEWS

"They work in a way that is very open with their audiences; interactive artworks, accessible materials, performances and workshops.

"This is what experimental art is today - art that is available to everyone."

Ms Pickering said there had also been interest in Material Sound from within Australia.

"We have our fingers crossed for a national regional tour to 13 regional galleries across the country, but it's funding dependent," she said.

"It's the first exhibition to bring together artists working in this way - a hands-on, material-based sound practice.

"Australian artists are at the forefront of an international movement in this form of art, so it was exciting to see a focused presentation of their work."

Material Sound is showing at the Black Mountain College Museum and Arts Centre until the end of August.

Receive our daily newsletter straight to your inbox each morning from The Border Mail. Sign up here