Lily Simonson: Painting the Deep is a new exhibit at the Harvard Museum of Natural History that features the extraordinary work of California artist Lily Simonson. Inspired by explorations of deep ocean life made in collaboration with Harvard University Professor Peter Girguis, Simonson’s art reflects a passion for the process of science, deep affection for the natural world, and dedication to seeking out and “bringing to light,” the beauty and mystery of places and lifeforms little known and rarely seen.

Lily Simonson: Painting the Deep presents six original mural-sized paintings that literally glow with luminescent pigments and together create an immersive visual experience where light and color materialize out of a sea of darkness, giving form to a hidden alien universe. Through her extraordinary art, Simonson envelops us in this astonishing world, invites us to share in the excitement of exploration and discovery, and challenges our preconceptions of what it is to be alive.