In academia, science and art departments rarely overlap. But they do share common ground. Both disciplines invite creativity and innovation, and both require practitioners to observe and interpret the natural world.  

This connection inspired Katie Queen, Ph.D., to launch the SciArt initiative–a collaboration between UVM’s Cancer Center and College of Arts and Sciences that encourages artistic interpretation of scientific images. “The goal of this project was to build meaningful collaborations between scientists and artists that would result in the creation of visual pieces,” says Queen, UVM Cancer Center’s Deputy Associate Director of Cancer Research, Training and Education. “Our hope was that these works of art could inspire a dialogue between the Cancer Center’s patients, clinicians, and researchers that ultimately serves our community.”  

To explore that idea, Queen teamed up with UVM College of Arts Professor Pamela Fraser, who teaches the undergraduate art class "Public Project Painting.” “The objective of the course is to immerse students in painting that was public-facing,” says Fraser. “That’s quite different from how painting is most often understood and practiced, which is as an individual project. Moreover, I hoped the students would gain an understanding of cancer research–especially the important research going on right here at UVM.” 

Queen provided Fraser’s students with research images from Cancer Center scientists and clinicians. While broad in nature, these included microscopic images of mouse liver cells, breast tumor tissue, and migrating cancer cells. With their vivid colors and dynamic shapes, these images could easily have passed for original works of art; the students’ assignment was to use them as inspiration for their own paintings. In addition, students toured the Cancer Center clinical spaces and research laboratories to gain perspective and inspiration. The result is a collection of 30 paintings, each accompanied by a short essay expressing the artist’s approach.  

The SciArt project taps into a larger national trend of making science accessible through the creative world of art. At UVM, its impact is also local. The student paintings have graced the walls of clinic spaces across the University of Vermont Cancer Center, including the FitzPatrick Cancer Treatment Center at Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital, the National Life Cancer Treatment Center at Central Vermont Medical Center, and the UVM Medical Center—the UVM Health Network's academic medical center. They are also being auctioned online, with proceeds jointly benefiting the UVM Cancer Center and the College of Arts and Sciences. “Our intention with this Sci-Art initiative was to lean into art as a way to bridge the gap between cancer research, clinical care, and patient experience,” says Queen. “We hope this is the start of a meaningful collaboration between local artists and the Cancer Center.”   

Online gallery available to view here.  

Online auction available here, until May 19, 2025.