Exhibition Overview
The Life Inside the Cell is an exhibition of artwork that showcases the creative talents of students from the BIO130 course, with the support of the Cell and Systems Biology Department.
As part of a course project, students transformed their learning into artistic expression, creating pieces that reflect their interpretation of lecture and laboratory content.
The artworks on display explore a range of biological themes, from the intricate packing of DNA within chromosomes to the dynamic architecture of cellular structures and the essential processes of life, such as DNA replication and protein synthesis.
From the dynamic aqueous environment of the cell to the beauty of microscopy, these pieces reveal the beauty and complexity of biological processes.
Students used a variety of artistic techniques, including digital tools, mixed media, and collage, to symbolize the interconnectedness of biological systems and create an imagined cellular universe.
Some works use watercolour to illustrate the fluidity of the cell’s interior, while others use precise colour shading and textural techniques to mirror the depth and contrast seen in microscopy.
Through these diverse artistic approaches and vibrant expressions, The Life Inside the Cell exhibition offers a unique perspective on the intersection of science and art. It celebrates the students’ creative vision and invites viewers to engage with and appreciate the intricate living systems that sustain us.
About the BIO130 BioArt Proposal
The students are encouraged to create and propose art for the BIO130 lab manual cover inspired by the molecular and cell biology concepts they learned.
The art is selected through a collaborative curation process involving a first step in which the BIO130 teaching team, including professors and teaching assistants, identifies the top 10 artworks. In the following step, all BIO130 students are invited to vote on the three runner-up artworks and determine the final winner.
The art with the most votes is featured on the BIO130 Lab Manual 2025 Cover (shown below). The three runner-up candidates are the receivers of the Cell and Systems Biology BioArt Award. Finally, all the top ten candidates have their art displayed in the BIO130 BioArt Gallery.
The students nominated during the Winter 2024 term are:
BIO130 Lab Manual Cover Feature – Nirvachita Rahman
Cell and Systems Biology BioArt Award – Zinaida Berniakovych, Wanqi Chu, Nirvachita Rahman
BIO130 BioArt Gallery – Zinaida Berniakovych, Petra Biddle-Gottesman, Wanqi Chu, Hosna Mazaheri, Anushka Patel, Nirvachita Rahman, Denis Rivard, Gillian Sundquist, Perlina Vaz, Meijue Zhang.
How to view the artwork
The on-site exhibition is located on the second floor, in the east wing of the Ramsay Wright building.
More details of this competition and all the entries are viewable at the online exhibition, hosted by the University of Toronto Libraries.
This exhibit was curated and created by Professor Adriana Caragea, Cell and Systems Biology Department, University of Toronto.