About 

Artist Bio:

Yana Zorina, Ph.D. is a neuroscientist with a lifelong passion for the arts.  In her scientific career, Yana has always been attracted to microscopy as a means to take a closer look at the beautiful structures that compose the mammalian brain.  In her scientifically-inspired artwork, she uses her scientific knowledge to accurately recreate scientific images into 3D-beaded renderings of cellular structures that can bring the beauty of scientific research to a wider audience.  In seeing beads as analogs of pixels that we observe on a screen, Yana turns microscopy on its head by transforming ultra-thin optical sections into 3D structures.  Beyond being passionate about the breathtaking beauty of microscopy images, Yana uses them to serve a greater purpose of communicating science to a wider audience and initiating conversations on difficult topics, such as neurological conditions.

Despite significant progress in scientific research in the field, neurological disorders remain shrouded in a veil of stigma. While foundations work on raising public awareness of these conditions, patients often feel uncomfortable in sharing their experiences with others. Art is a universal language that has been used for centuries to communicate complex concepts in an approachable way. From physical nerve injury to psychiatric disorders, art can aid patients in positively reframing their conversations with a wider audience. The beauty of biological images can fascinate and attract more people to learning more about what happens beneath the surface.

Want to know more? Check out my interview with Convergence Initiative HERE!

Please visit the Gallery section to browse and purchase the artwork.

You can also email me directly at yzorina@gmail.com. Let’s talk!

Exhibitions and publications:

• Art of the Brain, Mount Sinai Friedman Brain Institute, New York, NY, 2021
• NatureVolve Journal, February 2021 (link)
• Consilience Journal, January 2021 (link)
• Seagery Zine, Virtual Exhibition “BLANK”, 2020 – 2021
• Solutions, Tomato Mouse Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, 2020 – 2021
• Biological Psychiatry Journal, Cover image, August 2020 (link)
• Ascensus Journal of Humanities, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 2020 (link)
• Sanguine Expectations, Viridian Artists, 2020 (link)
• The Brain Project, Baycrest Foundation, 2020 (link), People’s Choice Award (3rd place)
• GASHER Journal, Spring 2020 Edition, 2020 (link)
• Nature, Light Space and Time Online Art Gallery, 2019 (link)
• Viridian’s 30th Annual International Juried Exhibition: “Rough Road Ahead,” Viridian Artists Gallery, New York, NY, 2019
• SciVizNYC, “Art as Therapy”, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, 2019 (invited speaker)
• Seagery Zine, online magazine, 2019 (link)
• Ascensus Journal of Humanities, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, 2019 (print and exhibition)
• Art of the Brain, Mount Sinai Friedman Brain Institute, New York, NY, 2019
• Neurology of the Soul, A.R.T./New York Theatres, New York, NY, 2019
• People’ Choice Grand Salon Show, Greenpoint Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, 2018
• Art of the Brain, Mount Sinai Friedman Brain Institute at Grady Alexis Gallery, New York, NY, 2018
• The Intersection of Art and Science, Women in Bio, New York, NY, 2017