Microbe Art Worlds
We invite participants to explore the intersection of biology, art, and imagination through a two-part experience using agar and living microbes. In our workshops, we introduce agar as both a creative material and a biological surface, guiding participants to first build a tiny “microbial world” and then use engineered bacteria as living paint. What begins as a simple design gradually transforms over time, revealing patterns, colors, and textures as the living material grows. Through this process, we highlight how time itself becomes part of the medium.
Our approach encourages participants to think of the petri dish as both a canvas and a living environment. As they design and create, learners engage in careful, intentional making—sketching ideas, working with delicate tools, and observing how their choices shape what becomes visible. By working with living systems, participants begin to understand that materials can respond, evolve, and change beyond the moment of creation. This experience also opens space for creativity and storytelling, as designs reflect personal ideas, curiosity, and imagination about unseen worlds.
At the core of this project is a focus on responsibility, care, and curiosity when designing with life. By using engineered microbes to create living artwork, we introduce key ideas from synthetic biology in an accessible and engaging way. Participants reflect on how biological systems can be guided but not fully controlled, and how growth, time, and environment influence outcomes. Ultimately, our goal is to foster a deeper understanding of living materials while encouraging thoughtful, creative, and ethical engagement with the biological world