Neuroscience with a Twist
Meet the artists of SfN 2024
Art and science go together like gin and tonic, but you’d never know it from most scientific meetings, where they tend to serve the science straight. At many conferences, you’d be lucky to score a pen or a tote bag plastered with a corporate logo as a souvenir. Attendees of the Society for Neuroscience annual meeting (SfN), on the other hand, can bypass the standard swag and find a wide variety of fine art and craft items reflecting their love of all things brainy.
For over a decade, SfN has featured The Art of Neuroscience, a space devoted to artists inspired by the wonders of the brain. The 2024 meeting, to be held from October 5-9 at McCormick Place in Chicago, will showcase numerous neuro-inspired artists with work ranging from embroidery and painting to printmaking and fine metalwork. You can find the artists at their booths all five days of the meeting from 10am to 4pm (AON 1-12 on the floor plan) near the entrance to the exhibits hall, so don’t leave SfN without a visit. Here's a sampling of who and what you can find at Art of Neuroscience 2024:
Geinene Carson (Studio Geinene) creates vivid works of original art which embody a unique intersection of art, science and lived experience. Her focus on neuro-centric subject matter and creative advocacy connects with a variety of communities in the realms of rare disease, neuroscience, and mental health. She’ll be bringing a selection of her vibrant paintings to SfN along with a thoughtful collection of neuro-themed merchandise.
Laura Bundesen explores the fascinating terrain of our magical human brains through form, texture and color using fiber art with a heavy dose of hand embroidery. She has also developed a full line of fun things for anybody with a brain. Make sure to stop by her booth to check out her gorgeous original embroidered pieces as well as pins and notecards based on her artwork.
Michele Banks (Artologica) makes watercolor and ink paintings that use the visual vocabulary of neuroscience to explore ideas of memory and consciousness. She’ll be bringing hundreds of unique, original paintings to SfN, at prices starting at just $10, along with luxurious silk scarves and neckties based on her art.
Kathleen Childress (H. Kathleen Childress Designs) creates fine jewelry that celebrates the timeless beauty and organic appeal of neurons, glia & the brain. Elevate your brainy style game with earrings, pendants, pins, rings, cuff links, cuffs, tie clips and more, handcrafted in sterling silver, 18kt gold & natural gemstones.
Two Photon Art is the creative outlet of two scientists, Tera Johnson and Christine Liu, on a mission to make STEM more fun, friendly, and accessible. Their colorful pins and brainy jewelry are always a huge hit with SfN attendees, so shop early for the best selection.
Samantha Montoya, a neuroscientist and artist, creates paintings and hand-cut linoleum prints inspired by her scientific interest in visual processing, and more generally, by the process of seeing and understanding the world. Her beautiful work combines cutting-edge neuroscience with a charming, handmade aesthetic.
Jaya Viswanathan, a neuroscientist, artist and writer, is the author of Baby Senses, a children’s neuroscience and neuroart book. The book, illustrated with Viswanathan’s own paintings, highlights 16 sensory systems including human senses, internal sensory systems, and exotic systems that allow animals to sense electric fields or see polarized light.
Also, don’t miss the Art of Neuroscience Social on October 8 from 6:45 to 8:45, a fun opportunity to mingle with artists, neuroscientists and lots of people who are both. More information here
All these and more treasures await at Art of Neuroscience. See you in Chicago!
Love this 💕
Uggh, wish I lived closer; the variety in the content that will be on display. These examples 😍😍😍
Hope you have a wonderful time!
Also, science, even though it’s served “straight up”, is the tonic in this example, right?