Biogenetic Blooms: Collaborations with Genetically Modified Yeast
“Biogenetic Blooms: Collaborations with Genetically Modified Yeast” is a series of floral inspired paintings made with genetically modified Saccharomyces cerevisiae (S. cerevisiae, commonly known as “Baker’s yeast”) on Petri dishes. The color palette in these paintings is composed of strains of S. cerevisiae engineered by the Boeke lab at NYU and Amino Bio in Canada. The colors of the palette include yeast engineered to express colored proteins from the DNA sequences of jellyfish (pink and fluorescent green), sea anemone (blue), coral (purple), and proteins from the metabolic pathways of violacein (found in bacteria; black and gray) and beta carotene (found in carrots, sweet potatoes, and red peppers; yellow, orange, and red). Read more about the inspiration behind this project.
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Acrylic blocks and aluminum prints on display at Biobat artspace
Acrylic blocks
Each acrylic block photograph is printed in an edition of five. 4” x 4” square, 3/4 inch thick
Iris 4, Multicolored
Gene modified yeast on YPD agar
Painted: July 25, 2023
Cooled: July 29, 2023
Photographed: September 14, 2023
Snapdragon 3, Purple
Gene modified yeast on YPD agar
Painted: September 1, 2023
Cooled: September 6, 2023
Photographed: September 14, 2023
Iris 8, Yellow
Gene modified yeast on YPD agar w/ charcoal
Painted: September 7, 2023
Cooled: September 11, 2023
Photographed: September 14, 2023
Daffodil 4, Peach
Gene modified yeast on YPD agar
Painted: September 3, 2023
Cooled: September 6, 2023
Photographed: September 14, 2023
Orchid 3, White
Gene modified yeast on YPD agar w/ charcoal
Painted: September 7, 2023
Cooled: September 11, 2023
Photographed: September 14, 2023
Orchid 4, Purple
Gene modified yeast on YPD agar w/ titanium dioxide
Painted: September 7, 2023
Cooled: September 11, 2023
Photographed: September 14, 2023
Blue Rose 3
Gene modified yeast on YPD agar w/ titanium dioxide
Painted: September 7, 2023
Cooled: September 11, 2023
Photographed: September 14, 2023
Snapdragon 4, Yellow
Gene modified yeast on YPD agar
Painted: September 3, 2023
Cooled: September 6, 2023
Photographed: September 14, 2023
Daffodil 3
Gene modified yeast on YPD agar
Painted: September 1, 2023
Cooled: September 6, 2023
Photographed: September 14, 2023
Tulip 2, Orange & White
Gene modified yeast on YPD agar with charcoal
Painted: September 5, 2023
Cooled: September 9, 2023
Photographed: September 14, 2023
Iris 6, Purple
Gene modified yeast on YPD agar
Painted: August 8, 2023
Cooled: August 12, 2023
Photographed: September 14, 2023
Poppy 6, Peach
Gene modified yeast on YPD agar w/ charcoal
Painted: September 7, 2023
Cooled: September 11, 2023
Photographed: September 14, 2023
Aluminum prints
Each print has a metal float hanger on the back. Each panel: 5” x 5”) and bouquet (16” x 16”) pieces
Bouquet 1 • Gene modified yeast on YPD agar w/ titanium dioxide, charcoal, and without augmentation
16” x 16” square, with a metal float hanger on the back
Painted & cooled: July 2023 - September 2023
Photographed: September 14, 2023
Triptych: Orchid 4, Purple • Gene modified yeast on YPD agar w/ titanium dioxide
5” x 5” square for each panel, with a metal float hanger on the back of each panel
Painted: September 7, 2023
Cooled: September 11, 2023
Photographed: September 7, 2023; September 8, 2023; September 14, 2023
Triptych: Iris 8, Yellow • Gene modified yeast on YPD agar w/ charcoal
5” x 5” square for each panel, with a metal float hanger on the back of each panel
Painted: September 7, 2023
Cooled: September 11, 2023
Photographed: September 7, 2023; September 8, 2023; September 14, 2023
Triptych: Iris 6, Purple (Contaminated) • Gene modified yeast on YPD agar
5” x 5” square for each panel, with a metal float hanger on the back of each panel
Painted: August 8, 2023
Cooled: August 12, 2023
Photographed: August 10, 2023; August 28, 2023; September 25, 2023
Preliminary studies
Hand drawn preliminary studies were made of each Petri dish painting. Each drawing has three Petri dishes represented in colored pencil and sharpie marker. Drawings are 9.25” x 12”, matted in a 16” x 20” white frame.
Drawing 1: Daffodil 2; Daffodil 3; Snapdragon 3, Purple
Colored pencil and sharpie marker on vellum
Drawing 2: Snapdragon 4, Yellow; Poppy 3, Peach; Daffodil 4, Peach
Colored pencil and sharpie marker on vellum
Drawing 3: Snapdragon 5, Peach; Poppy 4, Red; Columbine 3, Blue
Colored pencil and sharpie marker on vellum
Drawing 4: Columbine 4, Purple; Tulip 1, Black & Orange; Tulip 2, Orange & White
Colored pencil and sharpie marker on vellum
Drawing 5: Blue Rose 1; Blue Rose 2; Poppy 5, Purple
Colored pencil and sharpie marker on vellum
Drawing 6: Daffodil 5 Yellow; Snapdragon 6, Purple; Iris 7, Purple & Black
Colored pencil and sharpie marker on vellum
Drawing 7: Orchid 3, White; Blue Rose 3; Orchid 4, Purple
Colored pencil and sharpie marker on vellum
Drawing 8: Iris 8, Yellow; Hibiscus 3, Orange; Poppy 6, Peach
Colored pencil and sharpie marker on vellum