Mind's Eye of a Plant Biologist

Jessica Lazner, 2026
Watercolour, gouache, and ink.

In the Mind’s Eye of a Plant Biologist, you might see a fluid amalgamation of patterns, colours, textures, and microscopic sensory impressions. This artwork was painted with watercolour and gouache, with a colour scheme inspired by chlorophyll, auronidin, and anthocyanin pigments found in plants. Colourful layering of plant cellular forms and recognisable genetic symbols including the DNA double-helix, bacterial plasmids, and a phylogenetic tree is intended to evoke a sense of curiosity about the possibilities for exploration in plant research. 

The piece also depicts two key genetic model organisms, Marchantia polymorpha and Arabidopsis thaliana, studied by my PhD lab and collaborators. With diverse models and genetic tools, we work creatively towards understanding how DNA gives rise to complex developmental patterns across land plants.