Methods and systems for projecting wave fields use a diffusing medium, a wavefront shaper, an illumination source, and a control system. A system for projecting an object wave field into a projection volume includes a wave scatterer, a wave field projector configured to project a wave field onto the wave scatterer, and a controller coupled to the wave field projector. The controller is configured to cause the wave field projector to project a wave field that, upon interacting with the wave scatterer, is redirected to form an object wave field that forms a predetermined pattern in the projection volume.
