From the earliest days of Fermilab, Founding Director Robert R. Wilson identified and prioritized the relationship between the arts and science, recognizing that both are expressions of creativity.
The Guest Artist and Guest Composer Program at Fermilab initiates and stimulates interactions among scientists, artists and the public in order to increase the laboratory’s connection to the artistic community and to open up a pathway to a new target audience, thus increasing public appreciation for Fermilab.
The guest artist and guest composer interacts with Fermilab scientists either virtually or on-site at the laboratory, learns about their research, and considers how it connects to society. This exploration is then used to create a body of work, leading to community presentations and possibly an exhibition in the Fermilab Art Gallery.
Upcoming event
The Harp inside Schrodinger’s Box
By: Amy Nam, Guest Composer 2025 | Friday, May 29, 2026 from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. at Wilson Hall, Ramsey Auditorium
At the end of the event, please join us for a reception in the Fermilab Art Gallery honoring Guest Composer Amy Nam and Guest Artist Jelena Berenc.
This event is open to the public with proper identification.
2026 Guest Composer
Guest Composer Isaac Smith draws inspiration from science, from spacecraft landings on Titan to Earth’s atmosphere. His work often explores the intersection of technology and nature, including themes of climate change and sustainability. At Fermilab, he will explore the invisible world of particle physics, using music to express these phenomena.
Learn more about Isaac Smith and our past Guest Composers at Fermilab.
2026 Guest Artist
Guest Artist Eleftheria Lialios works with data from neutrino experiments and cosmic ray detectors to explore particle interactions at the moment they are first recorded as flashes of light and timing signals. Her project focuses on detection itself rather than interpretation, highlighting how scientific instruments accept, delay, or filter information. Drawing on the history of early optical tools and photography, she creates viewing devices that reveal images only under specific conditions, making the act of looking essential to what is seen.
Learn more about Eleftheria Lialios and our past Guests Artists at Fermilab.
Contact
If you have any questions about the Guest Artist and Guest Composer Program at Fermilab, email art@fnal.gov or review the frequently asked questions. Visit Fermilab’s Education and Public Engagement website and follow their Instagram for updates on programs and additional events.