Sarah Hearn, “Mycelium Network Polyptych” (2023), 9 panels, individual dimensions: 22 x 30”; overall dimensions: 66 x 90”, gel pen on black paper (from the artist)
To see and study microbes requires intention. Artist and self-described citizen scientist Sarah Hearn’s exhibit “Every. Other. All.” at the Box Gallery displays the results of her intentional work driven by curiosity, research and investigation.
Unseen without the aid of technology, the microbial world encompasses bacteria, fungi and viruses. These miniscule life forms are inherent in the “ecosystem of all living beings.” According to findings from a 2016 scientific study, the typical human body consists of 39 trillion microbial cells, which outnumber our own 30 trillion human cells.
Hearn’s work enables viewers to examine the plethora of organic structures, shapes and colors of these microorganisms on a larger scale. Humans require these bacteria, fungi and viruses to perform important functions that assist our bodies. This understanding might help gallery visitors to contemplate the portrayal of microbes with more than a passing glimpse.
Throughout her career as an artist, Hearn has devoted her focus to researching and exploring a relationship where human beings are part of nature rather than apart from it. She deploys drawing, photography and, at times, scientific methods to visualize biological life.
The largest work in “Every. Other. All.” is “Mycelium Network Polyptych,” a nine-panel display in a grid. Using gel pens on black paper, Hearn presents mycelium in a dazzling array of blue, teal, purple, white, and creamy orange. Mycelium is a network of filaments, the root system of a fungus that branches outward in complex curves and patterns. Presented at this scale, “Mycelium Network Polyptych” brings to mind a map of tributaries draining into a river but flowing in reverse.
“Portrait Gallery of Invisible Life (Everywhere)” presents a series of more than 30 watercolor paintings. Each frame features an individual portrait of microbes and an accompanying title card with references that viewers might find recognizable. Playful portraits aid the naked eye to see what is otherwise invisible without technology and pay homage to the function and form of scientific photography.
A collection of work subtitled “Sentient Subterranean (In-Between)” assembles gel pen drawings of microbial and fungal communities that are sentient networks. These ancient networks connect with other forest organisms, impacting nutrient distribution, decayed matter recycling and pollutant eradication. Hearn calls attention to their quiet, essential work within the continuum of life and death. “Mycelium Network #18” pops like a fireworks display in pink, peach and red against a black field.
Two dense frond-like structures in “Mycelium Network #11” call to mind the intricate root structures of perennial prairie grass that run up to 14-feet long, a natural system studied by The Land Institute in Salina, Kansas, to preserve and advance sustainable agricultural practices. In her own fashion, Hearn’s science-informed artistic work draws attention to nature and poses questions in playful, contemplative ways.
Previous interconnected bodies of work (not on view) include “Above,” “Below,” and “Out There.” Once again, Hearn’s art reminds us of the seen and unseen world we inhabit, and that inhabits us, and challenges us to consider what exists beyond our understanding. Beneficially, to encounter and learn can lead to further inquiry, understanding and growth inspired by both the arts and science.
“Sarah Hearn: Every. Other. All.” continues at Commerce Bank’s Box Gallery, 1000 Walnut St., through Sept. 18, 2025. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Friday. For more information, theboxgallery.org.
