Alongside her research in the Bronstein and Friend groups, Lucy Walker creates pointillism-inspired art using skeletal molecule structures.
First-year PhD student Lucy also hosts an art shop on Etsy called Molecularts, where she sells her artworks of regular everyday objects. The twist is that these pieces are made from tiny molecular structures of molecules found in that object. For example, her first ever piece of a bee is made up of glucose, fructose, gluconic acid, and hydrogen peroxide molecule structures, which are all molecules found in honey.
“Part of the benefit is communicating science. If my print can introduce someone to a skeletal molecular drawing or bring awareness to different molecules that are found in everyday objects then that is great,” says Lucy.
Lucy’s research is in the design and synthesis of organic radical molecules that can absorb and emit light. In the future, you might find these sorts of molecules in your phone screen as OLEDs for example
A little off-brand (not a molecule in sight) but thought I’d share a photo realism piece of Grogu that I drew not long ago. This is an art style I’ve been attempting for basically my whole life… I still have some of my art from when I was 6 😳 #photorealism #grogu #starwars #art pic.twitter.com/InDvZOnvlU
— Lucy (@molecularts_) July 3, 2022
It was before her PhD started and during the lockdown that Lucy spent more time with art. She started with photorealistic drawings, but decided she wanted to try something different and she reached to chemistry for inspiration. Molecular structures reminded her of pointillism, and the pieces naturally fell into place. Her first post of a rose got over 500 likes on Twitter so Lucy decided to open a shop. Now she has sold over 400 prints, with two more designs on the way. Watch out for her next release of a sea turtle that is composed of molecules often associated with ocean pollutants.
A rose comprised of molecules which are responsible for its aroma (+ water).
Clearly I’m having withdrawal from drawing molecules after finishing my MSci yesterday…@compoundchem https://t.co/NybONW1n9O #art #Chemistry #chemtwitter pic.twitter.com/pDTPNi8WbT
— Lucy (@molecularts_) June 8, 2022
Lucy studied her integrated Master’s at the University of Birmingham where she also was commissioned to create a piece featuring their iconic clock tower ‘old Joe’. It took her nearly 100 hours to complete using molecules researched in their labs, and will be featured on their walls later in the year.