Christopher Marley, BIOPHILIA, Open Now at Houston Museum of Natural Science

Artist and Author’s Groundbreaking Work Explores Human’s Intimate Connection to Nature

CHRISTOPHER MARLEY | BIOPHILIA: A Dialogue with Art, Nature and Science is an extensive art and multimedia sensory experience

CHRISTOPHER MARLEY | BIOPHILIA: A Dialogue with Art, Nature and Science is the culmination of two decades of work by the artist. The exhibit opens at the Houston Museum of Natural Science will be on display until September 2, 2019.

It is included with admission to the permanent exhibit halls. For ticket prices, visit http://www.hmns.org or call (713) 639-4629.


Chris Marley on a photo shoot with one of his creations
photo: courtesy of http://blog.hmns.org

Artist, naturalist and New York Times bestselling author Christopher Marley reveals the sometimes obscure beauty in nature. “Biophilia” meaning “love of life” is simultaneously explained and experienced in Marley’s immersive exhibit where the ancient connection between art, nature and science is explored.

Tapping the natural world as his medium, Marley’s revolutionary work features rare elements of nature in the precise, geometric compositions that have become his signature. All of the organisms used in Marley’s work are either reclaimed (in the case of vertebrates and blooms) or sustainably culled (in the case of insects and oceanic invertebrates).

photo: http://blog.hmns.org

“My objective is to increase a love and appreciation for the aesthetics of organisms,” Marley explains.

Featuring real organisms arranged to exhibit the beauty of rare, colorful animals, minerals and plants, Biophilia bridges the divide between art and science.

Guests will appreciate the stunningly vivid displays for their artistry on the part of Marley, as well as the artistry that nature creates on its own. The specimens selected for his works are usually unique in their color, size or morphology, which display the vastness of nature’s aesthetics.

This beauty inspires an appreciation for nature that extends far beyond the confines of the exhibit space. Marley’s work seeks to instill in its viewers a desire to learn more about biodiversity, taxonomy and conservation and to act as stewards and caretakers of nature.

photo: http://blog.hmns.org

Marley’s artwork is prized by major collectors and museums; it has been exhibited by over 500 galleries and retailers worldwide. His first book, “Pheromone, The Insect Art of Christopher Marley” (Pomegranate, 2008) was listed byThe Times (UK) as one of “The Best Books of 2008” and his second book, “Biophilia” (Abrams, 2015) is a New York Times Bestseller.

Marley’s awards for his 3-dimensional artwork include the International Furnishings and Design Association (Best in Show), the American Society of Interior Designers (Best of the Best, New York) and Photo District News (2010 Photo Annual Winner).  His work was the design inspiration for the Nike Track shoes used by the athletes in the 2016 Olympic Games.

photo: http://blog.hmns.org

Marley’s images have been licensed by the World Wildlife Fund, National Geographic Explorer, Kyoto Journal, Science News, Johns Hopkin University Press, and Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London.

Marley’s work has been featured in Harper’s BazaarThe New York TimesThe Times (UK), Scientific American, Wired, Slate, Audubon magazine, The New Yorker, Condé Nast Traveler, Marie Claire (France), Vogue (Italia), Town and Country, Smithsonian.com, OPB, Voice of America and on CBS Sunday Morning.

The exhibit was created and organized by Christopher Marley.