diff --git a/vortex-array/public-api.lock b/vortex-array/public-api.lock
index ea2e3619b1e..5d03b88a616 100644
--- a/vortex-array/public-api.lock
+++ b/vortex-array/public-api.lock
@@ -4708,6 +4708,118 @@ pub vortex_array::arrays::varbinview::VarBinViewArrayParts::validity: vortex_arr
 
 pub vortex_array::arrays::varbinview::VarBinViewArrayParts::views: vortex_array::buffer::BufferHandle
 
+pub mod vortex_array::arrays::variant
+
+pub struct vortex_array::arrays::variant::Variant
+
+impl vortex_array::arrays::Variant
+
+pub const vortex_array::arrays::Variant::ID: vortex_array::vtable::ArrayId
+
+impl core::fmt::Debug for vortex_array::arrays::Variant
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::fmt(&self, f: &mut core::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> core::fmt::Result
+
+impl vortex_array::vtable::OperationsVTable<vortex_array::arrays::Variant> for vortex_array::arrays::Variant
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::scalar_at(array: &<vortex_array::arrays::Variant as vortex_array::vtable::VTable>::Array, index: usize) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::scalar::Scalar>
+
+impl vortex_array::vtable::VTable for vortex_array::arrays::Variant
+
+pub type vortex_array::arrays::Variant::Array = vortex_array::arrays::variant::VariantArray
+
+pub type vortex_array::arrays::Variant::Metadata = vortex_array::EmptyMetadata
+
+pub type vortex_array::arrays::Variant::OperationsVTable = vortex_array::arrays::Variant
+
+pub type vortex_array::arrays::Variant::ValidityVTable = vortex_array::arrays::Variant
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::append_to_builder(array: &Self::Array, builder: &mut dyn vortex_array::builders::ArrayBuilder, ctx: &mut vortex_array::ExecutionCtx) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<()>
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::array_eq(array: &Self::Array, other: &Self::Array, precision: vortex_array::Precision) -> bool
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::array_hash<H: core::hash::Hasher>(array: &Self::Array, state: &mut H, precision: vortex_array::Precision)
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::buffer(_array: &Self::Array, idx: usize) -> vortex_array::buffer::BufferHandle
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::buffer_name(_array: &Self::Array, _idx: usize) -> core::option::Option<alloc::string::String>
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::build(dtype: &vortex_array::dtype::DType, len: usize, _metadata: &Self::Metadata, _buffers: &[vortex_array::buffer::BufferHandle], children: &dyn vortex_array::serde::ArrayChildren) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<Self::Array>
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::child(array: &Self::Array, idx: usize) -> vortex_array::ArrayRef
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::child_name(_array: &Self::Array, idx: usize) -> alloc::string::String
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::deserialize(_bytes: &[u8], _dtype: &vortex_array::dtype::DType, _len: usize, _buffers: &[vortex_array::buffer::BufferHandle], _session: &vortex_session::VortexSession) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<Self::Metadata>
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::dtype(array: &Self::Array) -> &vortex_array::dtype::DType
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::execute(array: &Self::Array, _ctx: &mut vortex_array::ExecutionCtx) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::ExecutionStep>
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::execute_parent(array: &Self::Array, parent: &vortex_array::ArrayRef, child_idx: usize, ctx: &mut vortex_array::ExecutionCtx) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<core::option::Option<vortex_array::ArrayRef>>
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::id(_array: &Self::Array) -> vortex_array::vtable::ArrayId
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::len(array: &Self::Array) -> usize
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::metadata(_array: &Self::Array) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<Self::Metadata>
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::nbuffers(_array: &Self::Array) -> usize
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::nchildren(_array: &Self::Array) -> usize
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::reduce(array: &Self::Array) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<core::option::Option<vortex_array::ArrayRef>>
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::reduce_parent(array: &Self::Array, parent: &vortex_array::ArrayRef, child_idx: usize) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<core::option::Option<vortex_array::ArrayRef>>
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::serialize(_metadata: Self::Metadata) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<core::option::Option<alloc::vec::Vec<u8>>>
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::stats(array: &Self::Array) -> vortex_array::stats::StatsSetRef<'_>
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::with_children(array: &mut Self::Array, children: alloc::vec::Vec<vortex_array::ArrayRef>) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<()>
+
+impl vortex_array::vtable::ValidityVTable<vortex_array::arrays::Variant> for vortex_array::arrays::Variant
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::validity(array: &<vortex_array::arrays::Variant as vortex_array::vtable::VTable>::Array) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::validity::Validity>
+
+pub struct vortex_array::arrays::variant::VariantArray
+
+impl vortex_array::arrays::variant::VariantArray
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::variant::VariantArray::child(&self) -> &vortex_array::ArrayRef
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::variant::VariantArray::new(child: vortex_array::ArrayRef, nullability: vortex_array::dtype::Nullability) -> Self
+
+impl vortex_array::arrays::variant::VariantArray
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::variant::VariantArray::to_array(&self) -> vortex_array::ArrayRef
+
+impl core::clone::Clone for vortex_array::arrays::variant::VariantArray
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::variant::VariantArray::clone(&self) -> vortex_array::arrays::variant::VariantArray
+
+impl core::convert::AsRef<dyn vortex_array::DynArray> for vortex_array::arrays::variant::VariantArray
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::variant::VariantArray::as_ref(&self) -> &dyn vortex_array::DynArray
+
+impl core::convert::From<vortex_array::arrays::variant::VariantArray> for vortex_array::ArrayRef
+
+pub fn vortex_array::ArrayRef::from(value: vortex_array::arrays::variant::VariantArray) -> vortex_array::ArrayRef
+
+impl core::fmt::Debug for vortex_array::arrays::variant::VariantArray
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::variant::VariantArray::fmt(&self, f: &mut core::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> core::fmt::Result
+
+impl core::ops::deref::Deref for vortex_array::arrays::variant::VariantArray
+
+pub type vortex_array::arrays::variant::VariantArray::Target = dyn vortex_array::DynArray
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::variant::VariantArray::deref(&self) -> &Self::Target
+
+impl vortex_array::IntoArray for vortex_array::arrays::variant::VariantArray
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::variant::VariantArray::into_array(self) -> vortex_array::ArrayRef
+
 pub struct vortex_array::arrays::Bool
 
 impl vortex_array::arrays::Bool
@@ -7852,6 +7964,116 @@ impl<'a> core::iter::traits::collect::FromIterator<core::option::Option<&'a str>
 
 pub fn vortex_array::arrays::VarBinViewArray::from_iter<T: core::iter::traits::collect::IntoIterator<Item = core::option::Option<&'a str>>>(iter: T) -> Self
 
+pub struct vortex_array::arrays::Variant
+
+impl vortex_array::arrays::Variant
+
+pub const vortex_array::arrays::Variant::ID: vortex_array::vtable::ArrayId
+
+impl core::fmt::Debug for vortex_array::arrays::Variant
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::fmt(&self, f: &mut core::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> core::fmt::Result
+
+impl vortex_array::vtable::OperationsVTable<vortex_array::arrays::Variant> for vortex_array::arrays::Variant
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::scalar_at(array: &<vortex_array::arrays::Variant as vortex_array::vtable::VTable>::Array, index: usize) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::scalar::Scalar>
+
+impl vortex_array::vtable::VTable for vortex_array::arrays::Variant
+
+pub type vortex_array::arrays::Variant::Array = vortex_array::arrays::variant::VariantArray
+
+pub type vortex_array::arrays::Variant::Metadata = vortex_array::EmptyMetadata
+
+pub type vortex_array::arrays::Variant::OperationsVTable = vortex_array::arrays::Variant
+
+pub type vortex_array::arrays::Variant::ValidityVTable = vortex_array::arrays::Variant
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::append_to_builder(array: &Self::Array, builder: &mut dyn vortex_array::builders::ArrayBuilder, ctx: &mut vortex_array::ExecutionCtx) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<()>
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::array_eq(array: &Self::Array, other: &Self::Array, precision: vortex_array::Precision) -> bool
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::array_hash<H: core::hash::Hasher>(array: &Self::Array, state: &mut H, precision: vortex_array::Precision)
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::buffer(_array: &Self::Array, idx: usize) -> vortex_array::buffer::BufferHandle
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::buffer_name(_array: &Self::Array, _idx: usize) -> core::option::Option<alloc::string::String>
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::build(dtype: &vortex_array::dtype::DType, len: usize, _metadata: &Self::Metadata, _buffers: &[vortex_array::buffer::BufferHandle], children: &dyn vortex_array::serde::ArrayChildren) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<Self::Array>
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::child(array: &Self::Array, idx: usize) -> vortex_array::ArrayRef
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::child_name(_array: &Self::Array, idx: usize) -> alloc::string::String
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::deserialize(_bytes: &[u8], _dtype: &vortex_array::dtype::DType, _len: usize, _buffers: &[vortex_array::buffer::BufferHandle], _session: &vortex_session::VortexSession) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<Self::Metadata>
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::dtype(array: &Self::Array) -> &vortex_array::dtype::DType
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::execute(array: &Self::Array, _ctx: &mut vortex_array::ExecutionCtx) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::ExecutionStep>
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::execute_parent(array: &Self::Array, parent: &vortex_array::ArrayRef, child_idx: usize, ctx: &mut vortex_array::ExecutionCtx) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<core::option::Option<vortex_array::ArrayRef>>
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::id(_array: &Self::Array) -> vortex_array::vtable::ArrayId
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::len(array: &Self::Array) -> usize
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::metadata(_array: &Self::Array) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<Self::Metadata>
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::nbuffers(_array: &Self::Array) -> usize
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::nchildren(_array: &Self::Array) -> usize
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::reduce(array: &Self::Array) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<core::option::Option<vortex_array::ArrayRef>>
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::reduce_parent(array: &Self::Array, parent: &vortex_array::ArrayRef, child_idx: usize) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<core::option::Option<vortex_array::ArrayRef>>
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::serialize(_metadata: Self::Metadata) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<core::option::Option<alloc::vec::Vec<u8>>>
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::stats(array: &Self::Array) -> vortex_array::stats::StatsSetRef<'_>
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::with_children(array: &mut Self::Array, children: alloc::vec::Vec<vortex_array::ArrayRef>) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<()>
+
+impl vortex_array::vtable::ValidityVTable<vortex_array::arrays::Variant> for vortex_array::arrays::Variant
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::validity(array: &<vortex_array::arrays::Variant as vortex_array::vtable::VTable>::Array) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::validity::Validity>
+
+pub struct vortex_array::arrays::VariantArray
+
+impl vortex_array::arrays::variant::VariantArray
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::variant::VariantArray::child(&self) -> &vortex_array::ArrayRef
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::variant::VariantArray::new(child: vortex_array::ArrayRef, nullability: vortex_array::dtype::Nullability) -> Self
+
+impl vortex_array::arrays::variant::VariantArray
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::variant::VariantArray::to_array(&self) -> vortex_array::ArrayRef
+
+impl core::clone::Clone for vortex_array::arrays::variant::VariantArray
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::variant::VariantArray::clone(&self) -> vortex_array::arrays::variant::VariantArray
+
+impl core::convert::AsRef<dyn vortex_array::DynArray> for vortex_array::arrays::variant::VariantArray
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::variant::VariantArray::as_ref(&self) -> &dyn vortex_array::DynArray
+
+impl core::convert::From<vortex_array::arrays::variant::VariantArray> for vortex_array::ArrayRef
+
+pub fn vortex_array::ArrayRef::from(value: vortex_array::arrays::variant::VariantArray) -> vortex_array::ArrayRef
+
+impl core::fmt::Debug for vortex_array::arrays::variant::VariantArray
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::variant::VariantArray::fmt(&self, f: &mut core::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> core::fmt::Result
+
+impl core::ops::deref::Deref for vortex_array::arrays::variant::VariantArray
+
+pub type vortex_array::arrays::variant::VariantArray::Target = dyn vortex_array::DynArray
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::variant::VariantArray::deref(&self) -> &Self::Target
+
+impl vortex_array::IntoArray for vortex_array::arrays::variant::VariantArray
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::variant::VariantArray::into_array(self) -> vortex_array::ArrayRef
+
 pub mod vortex_array::arrow
 
 pub mod vortex_array::arrow::bool
@@ -20420,6 +20642,10 @@ impl vortex_array::vtable::OperationsVTable<vortex_array::arrays::VarBinView> fo
 
 pub fn vortex_array::arrays::VarBinView::scalar_at(array: &vortex_array::arrays::VarBinViewArray, index: usize) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::scalar::Scalar>
 
+impl vortex_array::vtable::OperationsVTable<vortex_array::arrays::Variant> for vortex_array::arrays::Variant
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::scalar_at(array: &<vortex_array::arrays::Variant as vortex_array::vtable::VTable>::Array, index: usize) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::scalar::Scalar>
+
 impl vortex_array::vtable::OperationsVTable<vortex_array::arrays::dict::Dict> for vortex_array::arrays::dict::Dict
 
 pub fn vortex_array::arrays::dict::Dict::scalar_at(array: &vortex_array::arrays::dict::DictArray, index: usize) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::scalar::Scalar>
@@ -21304,6 +21530,60 @@ pub fn vortex_array::arrays::VarBinView::stats(array: &vortex_array::arrays::Var
 
 pub fn vortex_array::arrays::VarBinView::with_children(array: &mut Self::Array, children: alloc::vec::Vec<vortex_array::ArrayRef>) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<()>
 
+impl vortex_array::vtable::VTable for vortex_array::arrays::Variant
+
+pub type vortex_array::arrays::Variant::Array = vortex_array::arrays::variant::VariantArray
+
+pub type vortex_array::arrays::Variant::Metadata = vortex_array::EmptyMetadata
+
+pub type vortex_array::arrays::Variant::OperationsVTable = vortex_array::arrays::Variant
+
+pub type vortex_array::arrays::Variant::ValidityVTable = vortex_array::arrays::Variant
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::append_to_builder(array: &Self::Array, builder: &mut dyn vortex_array::builders::ArrayBuilder, ctx: &mut vortex_array::ExecutionCtx) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<()>
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::array_eq(array: &Self::Array, other: &Self::Array, precision: vortex_array::Precision) -> bool
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::array_hash<H: core::hash::Hasher>(array: &Self::Array, state: &mut H, precision: vortex_array::Precision)
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::buffer(_array: &Self::Array, idx: usize) -> vortex_array::buffer::BufferHandle
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::buffer_name(_array: &Self::Array, _idx: usize) -> core::option::Option<alloc::string::String>
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::build(dtype: &vortex_array::dtype::DType, len: usize, _metadata: &Self::Metadata, _buffers: &[vortex_array::buffer::BufferHandle], children: &dyn vortex_array::serde::ArrayChildren) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<Self::Array>
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::child(array: &Self::Array, idx: usize) -> vortex_array::ArrayRef
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::child_name(_array: &Self::Array, idx: usize) -> alloc::string::String
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::deserialize(_bytes: &[u8], _dtype: &vortex_array::dtype::DType, _len: usize, _buffers: &[vortex_array::buffer::BufferHandle], _session: &vortex_session::VortexSession) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<Self::Metadata>
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::dtype(array: &Self::Array) -> &vortex_array::dtype::DType
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::execute(array: &Self::Array, _ctx: &mut vortex_array::ExecutionCtx) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::ExecutionStep>
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::execute_parent(array: &Self::Array, parent: &vortex_array::ArrayRef, child_idx: usize, ctx: &mut vortex_array::ExecutionCtx) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<core::option::Option<vortex_array::ArrayRef>>
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::id(_array: &Self::Array) -> vortex_array::vtable::ArrayId
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::len(array: &Self::Array) -> usize
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::metadata(_array: &Self::Array) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<Self::Metadata>
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::nbuffers(_array: &Self::Array) -> usize
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::nchildren(_array: &Self::Array) -> usize
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::reduce(array: &Self::Array) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<core::option::Option<vortex_array::ArrayRef>>
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::reduce_parent(array: &Self::Array, parent: &vortex_array::ArrayRef, child_idx: usize) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<core::option::Option<vortex_array::ArrayRef>>
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::serialize(_metadata: Self::Metadata) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<core::option::Option<alloc::vec::Vec<u8>>>
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::stats(array: &Self::Array) -> vortex_array::stats::StatsSetRef<'_>
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::with_children(array: &mut Self::Array, children: alloc::vec::Vec<vortex_array::ArrayRef>) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<()>
+
 impl vortex_array::vtable::VTable for vortex_array::arrays::dict::Dict
 
 pub type vortex_array::arrays::dict::Dict::Array = vortex_array::arrays::dict::DictArray
@@ -21604,6 +21884,10 @@ impl vortex_array::vtable::ValidityVTable<vortex_array::arrays::Shared> for vort
 
 pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Shared::validity(array: &vortex_array::arrays::SharedArray) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::validity::Validity>
 
+impl vortex_array::vtable::ValidityVTable<vortex_array::arrays::Variant> for vortex_array::arrays::Variant
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::Variant::validity(array: &<vortex_array::arrays::Variant as vortex_array::vtable::VTable>::Array) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::validity::Validity>
+
 impl vortex_array::vtable::ValidityVTable<vortex_array::arrays::dict::Dict> for vortex_array::arrays::dict::Dict
 
 pub fn vortex_array::arrays::dict::Dict::validity(array: &vortex_array::arrays::dict::DictArray) -> vortex_error::VortexResult<vortex_array::validity::Validity>
@@ -22672,6 +22956,10 @@ impl vortex_array::IntoArray for vortex_array::arrays::slice::SliceArray
 
 pub fn vortex_array::arrays::slice::SliceArray::into_array(self) -> vortex_array::ArrayRef
 
+impl vortex_array::IntoArray for vortex_array::arrays::variant::VariantArray
+
+pub fn vortex_array::arrays::variant::VariantArray::into_array(self) -> vortex_array::ArrayRef
+
 impl vortex_array::IntoArray for vortex_buffer::bit::buf::BitBuffer
 
 pub fn vortex_buffer::bit::buf::BitBuffer::into_array(self) -> vortex_array::ArrayRef
diff --git a/vortex-array/src/arrays/mod.rs b/vortex-array/src/arrays/mod.rs
index 62325b69eb5..43f8a84d49e 100644
--- a/vortex-array/src/arrays/mod.rs
+++ b/vortex-array/src/arrays/mod.rs
@@ -94,5 +94,9 @@ pub mod varbinview;
 pub use varbinview::VarBinView;
 pub use varbinview::VarBinViewArray;
 
+pub mod variant;
+pub use variant::Variant;
+pub use variant::VariantArray;
+
 #[cfg(feature = "arbitrary")]
 pub mod arbitrary;
diff --git a/vortex-array/src/arrays/variant/mod.rs b/vortex-array/src/arrays/variant/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..054cdedb9b8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vortex-array/src/arrays/variant/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+// SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Copyright the Vortex contributors
+
+mod vtable;
+
+pub use self::vtable::Variant;
+use crate::ArrayRef;
+use crate::dtype::DType;
+use crate::dtype::Nullability;
+
+/// The canonical in-memory representation of variant (semi-structured) data.
+///
+/// Wraps a single child array that contains the actual variant-encoded data
+/// (e.g. a `ParquetVariantArray` or any other variant encoding).
+#[derive(Clone, Debug)]
+pub struct VariantArray {
+    dtype: DType,
+    child: ArrayRef,
+}
+
+impl VariantArray {
+    /// Creates a new VariantArray with the given nullability.
+    pub fn new(child: ArrayRef, nullability: Nullability) -> Self {
+        Self {
+            dtype: DType::Variant(nullability),
+            child,
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Returns a reference to the underlying child array.
+    pub fn child(&self) -> &ArrayRef {
+        &self.child
+    }
+}
diff --git a/vortex-array/src/arrays/variant/vtable/mod.rs b/vortex-array/src/arrays/variant/vtable/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..71ae0665212
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vortex-array/src/arrays/variant/vtable/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,157 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+// SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Copyright the Vortex contributors
+
+mod operations;
+mod validity;
+
+use std::hash::Hasher;
+
+use vortex_error::VortexExpect;
+use vortex_error::VortexResult;
+use vortex_error::vortex_ensure;
+use vortex_error::vortex_panic;
+
+use crate::ArrayEq;
+use crate::ArrayHash;
+use crate::ArrayRef;
+use crate::EmptyMetadata;
+use crate::ExecutionCtx;
+use crate::ExecutionStep;
+use crate::IntoArray;
+use crate::Precision;
+use crate::arrays::VariantArray;
+use crate::buffer::BufferHandle;
+use crate::dtype::DType;
+use crate::serde::ArrayChildren;
+use crate::stats::StatsSetRef;
+use crate::vtable;
+use crate::vtable::ArrayId;
+use crate::vtable::VTable;
+
+vtable!(Variant);
+
+#[derive(Debug)]
+pub struct Variant;
+
+impl Variant {
+    pub const ID: ArrayId = ArrayId::new_ref("vortex.variant");
+}
+
+impl VTable for Variant {
+    type Array = VariantArray;
+
+    type Metadata = EmptyMetadata;
+
+    type OperationsVTable = Self;
+
+    type ValidityVTable = Self;
+
+    fn id(_array: &Self::Array) -> ArrayId {
+        Self::ID
+    }
+
+    fn len(array: &Self::Array) -> usize {
+        array.child.len()
+    }
+
+    fn dtype(array: &Self::Array) -> &DType {
+        &array.dtype
+    }
+
+    fn stats(array: &Self::Array) -> StatsSetRef<'_> {
+        array.child.statistics()
+    }
+
+    fn array_hash<H: Hasher>(array: &Self::Array, state: &mut H, precision: Precision) {
+        array.child.array_hash(state, precision);
+    }
+
+    fn array_eq(array: &Self::Array, other: &Self::Array, precision: Precision) -> bool {
+        array.child.array_eq(&other.child, precision)
+    }
+
+    fn nbuffers(_array: &Self::Array) -> usize {
+        0
+    }
+
+    fn buffer(_array: &Self::Array, idx: usize) -> BufferHandle {
+        vortex_panic!("VariantArray buffer index {idx} out of bounds")
+    }
+
+    fn buffer_name(_array: &Self::Array, _idx: usize) -> Option<String> {
+        None
+    }
+
+    fn nchildren(_array: &Self::Array) -> usize {
+        1
+    }
+
+    fn child(array: &Self::Array, idx: usize) -> ArrayRef {
+        match idx {
+            0 => array.child.clone(),
+            _ => vortex_panic!("VariantArray child index {idx} out of bounds"),
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn child_name(_array: &Self::Array, idx: usize) -> String {
+        match idx {
+            0 => "child".to_string(),
+            _ => vortex_panic!("VariantArray child_name index {idx} out of bounds"),
+        }
+    }
+
+    fn metadata(_array: &Self::Array) -> VortexResult<Self::Metadata> {
+        Ok(EmptyMetadata)
+    }
+
+    fn serialize(_metadata: Self::Metadata) -> VortexResult<Option<Vec<u8>>> {
+        Ok(Some(vec![]))
+    }
+
+    fn deserialize(
+        _bytes: &[u8],
+        _dtype: &DType,
+        _len: usize,
+        _buffers: &[BufferHandle],
+        _session: &vortex_session::VortexSession,
+    ) -> VortexResult<Self::Metadata> {
+        Ok(EmptyMetadata)
+    }
+
+    fn build(
+        dtype: &DType,
+        len: usize,
+        _metadata: &Self::Metadata,
+        _buffers: &[BufferHandle],
+        children: &dyn ArrayChildren,
+    ) -> VortexResult<Self::Array> {
+        vortex_ensure!(matches!(dtype, DType::Variant(_)), "Expected Variant DType");
+        vortex_ensure!(
+            children.len() == 1,
+            "Expected 1 child, got {}",
+            children.len()
+        );
+        // The child can be any variant encoding, so we use DType::Variant.
+        let child = children.get(
+            0,
+            &DType::Variant(crate::dtype::Nullability::NonNullable),
+            len,
+        )?;
+        Ok(VariantArray::new(child, dtype.nullability()))
+    }
+
+    fn with_children(array: &mut Self::Array, children: Vec<ArrayRef>) -> VortexResult<()> {
+        vortex_ensure!(
+            children.len() == 1,
+            "VariantArray expects exactly 1 child, got {}",
+            children.len()
+        );
+        array.child = children.into_iter().next().vortex_expect("must exist");
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    fn execute(array: &Self::Array, _ctx: &mut ExecutionCtx) -> VortexResult<ExecutionStep> {
+        // VariantArray is the canonical variant representation.
+        Ok(ExecutionStep::done(array.clone().into_array()))
+    }
+}
diff --git a/vortex-array/src/arrays/variant/vtable/operations.rs b/vortex-array/src/arrays/variant/vtable/operations.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..5884b43319d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vortex-array/src/arrays/variant/vtable/operations.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+// SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Copyright the Vortex contributors
+
+use vortex_error::VortexResult;
+
+use crate::arrays::Variant;
+use crate::scalar::Scalar;
+use crate::vtable::OperationsVTable;
+
+impl OperationsVTable<Variant> for Variant {
+    fn scalar_at(
+        array: &<Variant as crate::vtable::VTable>::Array,
+        index: usize,
+    ) -> VortexResult<Scalar> {
+        array.child().scalar_at(index)
+    }
+}
diff --git a/vortex-array/src/arrays/variant/vtable/validity.rs b/vortex-array/src/arrays/variant/vtable/validity.rs
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..8e1b1d804ad
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vortex-array/src/arrays/variant/vtable/validity.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+// SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0
+// SPDX-FileCopyrightText: Copyright the Vortex contributors
+
+use vortex_error::VortexResult;
+
+use crate::arrays::Variant;
+use crate::validity::Validity;
+use crate::vtable::VTable;
+use crate::vtable::ValidityVTable;
+
+impl ValidityVTable<Variant> for Variant {
+    fn validity(array: &<Variant as VTable>::Array) -> VortexResult<Validity> {
+        array.child().validity()
+    }
+}