The University of Arizona’s Lunar and Planetary Laboratory presents the Art of Planetary Science 2025: 50 Years of Mystery and Discovery on Mars, an exhibition of art celebrating the beauty and elegance of science.
The free exhibition features 123 works of fine art from Tucson and around the world inspired by the solar system, the universe, and the scientific data we use to explore it. We also present art created from the images, data, equations, and instruments used to study the cosmos, revealing the underlying meaning that inspires scientists in their work. Being able to view Data Art and Fine Art side by side offers insights into the cosmic arena in which we reside.
The special theme of this year’s exhibition, 50 Years of Mystery and Discovery on Mars, evokes the imagination from the first lander on Mars, Viking 1, to today’s thoughts from surfaces to habitability, and the ways that our knowledge of Mars has expanded to other worlds into the Solar System and beyond.
The galleries open on Friday, February 21st, 2025. Art will be displayed in-person at the Kuiper Space Sciences building on 2/21 (5-9pm), Saturday 2/22 (1-5pm), and Sunday 2/23 (1-5pm) (all times are MST).
Along with our galleries, we will have out of this world events including a special exhibition from Imagination 1, Solar telescopes on 2/22 and 2/23 (2-4pm), and free live music from local bands, Daytrails on 2/21 (6:30-8pm) and RUBEE on 2/22 (2-3pm)!
Space-themed clothing is also encouraged on opening night, Friday 2/21! It could be as small as wearing your favorite space t-shirt or as big as dressing up as an entire celestial object.
Winning art pieces are announced on our website and are listed below. Members of the public can cast their vote for their favorite art for the “People’s Choice Award” during the in-person exhibition weekend.
Data Art Winners:
1st Place: Atelier*zepher, Title: “Nightfall (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS)”
2nd Place: Catsat Team, Title: “Our Earth and Beyond”
3rd Place: Dr. Allison McGraw, Moon Night et al., Title: “Smash Hits on the SPR!”
Fine Art Winners:
1st Place: Reynold & Sarah Mackey, Title: “Rare Form”
2nd Place: Laci Brock, Title: “Spectrum of Stardust”
3rd Place: Zoe Zeszut, Title: “Asteriod Bennu at 4 Scales”
50 Years of Mystery and Discovery on Mars Winners:
1st Place: Chrysanthe Kapuranis, Title: “Journey Around Mars with the Rovers”
2nd Place: Claude Bidal, Title: “Dream of Mars”
3rd Place: Laci Brock, Title: “Dare”
The Lunar and Planetary Laboratory (LPL) is an academic institution that pursues scholarly research and education across the broad discipline of planetary and solar systems science. The Art of Planetary Science exhibition is a volunteer outreach event founded and coordinated by the graduate students, staff, and scientists of LPL.
Kuiper Space Sciences Building
1629 E. University Blvd.
Tucson, Arizona, 85721
For more information, go to www.lpl.arizona.edu/art or email [email protected]
