About the Princeton University Art of Science Exhibition

The Princeton University Art of Science exhibition explores the interplay between science and art. Works are selected for their aesthetic excellence, for their scientific or technical interest, and for their capacity to inspire creativity across disciplines, cultures, languages, and age groups. Art of Science spurs conversation among artists about the nature of art, opens scientists to new ways of “seeing” their own research, and offers a lens through which the general public can engage with both art and science—two fields that for different reasons can feel inaccessible to the non-expert.

Powerful modeling and imaging tools now capture our world in novel ways and produce compelling visual artifacts, either by intention or serendipity. When considered through the lens of art, these works push our knowledge of the human experience, enhance and challenge our understanding of the natural world, and expand what we consider art and whom we think of as artists.

Ultimately, the aim of Art of Science is to celebrate the symbiosis of two fields that are essential expressions of human creativity.

Acknowledgements

2023-24 Art of Science Organizers

  • Barron Bixler, Art and Media Specialist, High Meadows Environmental Institute; Creative Director, Blue Lab
  • Brendan Byrne, StudioLab Manager, Council on Science and Technology
  • Chenyue Cai, Graduate Student, Computer Science
  • Adam Finkelstein, Phillip Y. Goldman ’86 Professor in Computer Science
  • Steven Shultz, Director, Engineering Communications
  • Tim Szetela, Lecturer in Visual Arts, Lewis Center for the Arts
  • Andrew Zwicker, Head of Strategic Partnerships and Public Engagement, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL); New Jersey State Senator

2023-24 Judges

Thank you to our wonderful judges for helping us select this year’s winners:

  • Anne Cheng / Professor of English / Affiliated faculty in the Program in American Studies, the Program in Gender and Sexuality Studies, and the Committee on Film Studies
  • Rachael DeLue / Chair, Art & Archaeology /  Christopher Binyon Sarofim ’86 Professor in American Art and Faculty in the Effron Center for the Study of America
  • Bart Devolder / Chief Conservator, Princeton University Art Museum
  • Penelope Georges  / Associate Director, STEM Initiatives, Council on Science and Technology
  • Alberto Eduardo Morales / Postdoctoral Research Associate and Lecturer in Latin American Studies

Sponsors

The Art of Science 2023-24 organizers express our sincere gratitude to our supporters:

  • Andlinger Center For Energy And the Environment
  • Council on Science and Technology (CST)
  • Department of Anthropology
  • Department of Art and Archaeology
  • Department of Astrophysical Sciences
  • Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering
  • Department of Computer Science
  • Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering
  • Department of Geosciences
  • Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
  • Department of Physics
  • Department of Psychology
  • High Meadows Environmental Institute
  • Keller Center for Innovation in Engineering Education
  • Lewis Center for the Arts
  • Lewis-Sigler Institute for Integrative Genomics
  • Office of the Dean for Research
  • Princeton Institute for Computational Science and Engineering
  • Princeton Materials Institute
  • Princeton Neuroscience Institute
  • Princeton University Art Museum

Thanks also to our friends at the Council on Science and Technology for leading Art of Science’s fundraising efforts this year, especially:

  • Sami Kahn, Executive Director, Council on Science and Technology
  • Craig Marshall, Assistant Director STEM Education, Council on Science and Technology
  • Joe Capizzi, Program Manager, Council on Science and Technology
  • Kailyn Cohen, Graduate Student and University Administrative Fellow, Council on Science and Technology
  • Molly Eckel, Graduate Student and University Administrative Fellow, Council on Science and Technology

Special Thanks

The Princeton University Digital Print Center team was an invaluable partner in the production of the works for this year’s exhibition. We’d like to extend special thanks to:

  • Dennis Fairburn, Production Technician for his extraordinary talent and care with printing and mounting all the artworks in the show
  • Scott VanderVeer, Digital Press & Customer Service Representative for helping us coordinate all the details on this complex print job
  • Darcy Cotten, Manager for keeping us all on track

Collaboration Team

The first Art of Science competition in 2005 began as a collaboration between the School of Engineering and Applied Science and the Visual Arts Program. It was initially conceived and curated by photographer Andrew Moore ’79, alumni Alex Halderman ’03*09 and Katalin Lovasz *07, and Professor of Computer Science Adam Finkelstein. Over the years it has been offered eight more times with collaborators including Jasmin Imran Alsous *18 Chemical and Biological Engineering; Perry Cook, Professor Emeritus of Computer Science and Music; Jonathan Harris ’21; Teresa Riordan, Engineering Communications; and Andrew Zwicker, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory.

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