Art

I make art using data collected by robotic spacecrafts sent to explore objects throughout the Solar System. My series of paper planets (below) are made using topography data and images of the Moon, Mars, Europa, and other worlds. The general process of how I create these works is given with the first of the series, entitled The Book of Moon, in which I transformed my PhD thesis into a lunar landscape. A later version of this landscape, Margaret’s Moon, tends to be a crowd favorite among my works. As you’ll see, I also do machine embroidery, glass etching, sewing, and other mediums as inspired. I make art as a hobby, but I do sometimes take commissions and I also teach workshops!

I started working in the intersection of science and art in graduate school at the University of Arizona’s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory. In 2013, I founded The Art of Planetary Science, an annual exhibition celebrating the beauty and elegance of the solar system and featuring works from scientists about their research. The show was a huge success and ultimately led to a decade+ of work using art as a tool to help artists and the public meaningfully access and engage with space outside of academia. My own growth as an artist over these years has also been personally enriching, and honestly it’s made me a better scientist. You can find photos from previous art shows and workshops at the websites linked above, as well as an academic paper about my efforts here.