By Diana Bautista Hernandez, Student Media Assistant for OEL
Ellen Aughenbaugh ’26, a double major in Biological Sciences and Studio Art and 2025 Engaged Learning Fellow, showcased her project, Interlinked: Bridging Art and Science this semester at the Jordan Gallery in the Owens Art Center. Aughenbaugh’s vision was to bridge the field of art and science together in an exhibit collection of oil paintings and charcoal drawings. She invited the viewer to contemplate not just the art but the deeper connection that it shares with the world of science.
What is your project about?
Interlinked is an interdisciplinary artistic research project that bridges the fields of art and science. The project culminated in a gallery exhibition inviting viewers to contemplate the similarities between the two disciplines as they intertwine in their search for truth and beauty. I primarily created oil paintings and charcoal drawings, focusing on neuroscience-related themes.
What was one moment during this project that really stuck with you?
One moment that really stuck with me was the moment of the exhibition itself, when the private, often lonesome work of creating art suddenly became public. Seeing my pieces up on the wall, framed and lit, was an entirely different experience from seeing them scattered across the floor of my studio. It felt like they transformed in a way I hadn’t expected. What was even more striking was witnessing how different groups reacted: scientists, artists, interdisciplinary thinkers, and even people who didn’t consider themselves part of either world. Everyone brought their own questions and perspectives, and each related to my work in unique ways. I was surprised and moved by how many people, regardless of their background, wanted to know more about the scientific inspirations behind my work. It reminded me that curiosity is universal, and that art can be a bridge between fields that might seem separate at first glance.
In what ways did this experience help you grow or push you outside of your comfort zone?
One thing that really pushed me outside of my comfort zone during this project was figuring out how to make science feel personal and empathetic. As a portrait artist, I’m used to people immediately connecting with faces- there’s an instant emotional reaction. With Interlinked, I had to find a way to make cells, anatomical sketches, and synapses feel just as relatable and emotionally provocative. It challenged me to push my craft further, and to find humanity inside the structures and processes that make us who we are.
