How to Use Art, Technology and Nature to Change the World – Forest Stearns – Ep 163
January 29, 2025
ON TODAY’S EPISODE
Have you ever seen a painting on a satellite or art on a quantum computer?
Forest Stearns, principal artist and founder of Draw Everywhere Studio and the resident artist at Google Quantum AI, shares how he puts art into space, transforming satellites into canvases for beautiful, thought-provoking illustrations.
His unique fusion of art and science doesn’t stop there. Forest’s curiosity and drive led him to join Google and decorate quantum computers with inspiring art, making them more relatable to the average person.
We dig into the synergy between art and science and how art can connect different fields and people as a universal language. This episode celebrates the unexpected, the beautiful, and the creative spirit that drives creative innovation. Listen to learn how we can integrate creativity into our everyday lives.
Listen if you are interested in…
- The crossover between art and science (00:00)
- How art and science bring valuable ideas to life (06:03)
- Forest’s experience with aerospace science and painting on satellites (14:26)
- How Forest brings art to quantum computers (18:21)
- Art in non-artistic spaces inspires creativity and self-reflection (25:55)
- Ornamenting technology with art encourages people to engage with science (33:46)
- Nature’s chaotic beauty inspires awe and investigation (43:36)
How Creativity Shapes the Quantum World
Forest conceived “Draw Everywhere” out of a passion for storytelling through mark-making. We have a universal compulsion to draw, create patterns, and tell stories through visuals. Forest’s work embraces the dynamic energy and bubbling commerce of urban environments. He loves exploring nature and the city, drawing creative inspiration from both.
Through his collaboration with Google’s quantum computing team, Forest has worked on pioneering projects, including wrapping quantum computers in artwork. These beautiful projects help humanize the intricate, often opaque, world of quantum physics. His goal is to bring creativity into the intellectual and mathematical arena by turning complex scientific constructs into something accessible and visually compelling.
Creative Collaboration with Scientists
Forest juxtaposes the creative process with scientific inquiry. He describes scientists as mission-driven individuals who love to investigate and solve problems, traits that resonate deeply with creative practitioners. Forest’s experience working with scientists has expanded his creative perspective, making him a better artist.
Forest brings international artists to work alongside quantum physicists through his artist-in-residence program at Google Quantum AI. This collaborative environment fosters interdisciplinary dialogue to solve problems and amplify the human elements.”
Art in Unconventional Spaces
One of Forest’s most remarkable achievements is his work in aerospace, where he introduced art to spaceships, creating the first art show in space. An audacious idea was borne out of a chance meeting when he persuaded a venture capitalist to let him paint satellites with humanitarian art. This initiative made the technology more visually attractive and made the mission more accessible and relevant to the wider public.
The experience paved the way for Forest’s subsequent work with Google Quantum AI, where he continues to infuse high technology with artistic beauty. “It’s not just about making things for comfort,” Forest asserts, “It’s about how we can be better humans and better stewards of the Earth as we create these technologies.”
Resources & People Mentioned
- Ivy Ross
- Susan Magsamen
- Your Brain on Art by Ivy Ross and Susan Magsamen
- Your Brain on Art – Ivy Ross and Susan Magsamen – Ep 74
- Forest Stearns: Space Art Dream Remix TED Talk
Connect with Forest Stearns
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Hi! I’m
Nicholas Wilton
the founder of Art2Life.
With over 20 years experience as a working artist and educator, I’ve developed a systematic approach that brings authenticity, spontaneity and joy back into the creative process.
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