Art in the Education Lab
Every year the Zuckerman Institute commissions an artist to create an original artwork that will invite and inspire community members to explore science through an artistic lens.
Come join us on Thursday, June 18, at 5:30 pm, when we unveil our latest piece, The Shape of Memory, by interdisciplinary artist Maya Ciarrocchi.
What is the physical form of a memory?
To explore this question, Maya has created a woven Jacquard tapestry, inspired by conversations with researchers at ZI. She was particularly intrigued by the work being done in the Dmitriy Aronov Lab, where scientists study the black-capped chickadee—a tiny bird known for its incredible ability to hide thousands of bits of food and remember exactly where it put them.
The artwork is based on real data, including maps of where the birds hide and retrieve their food, a behavior known as “caching”. Maya found inspiration in the distinctive barcode-like patterns associated with their memory formation. By turning this scientific information into a physical fabric, the project helps us "see" the invisible process of thinking. It’s a reminder that memory isn't just a biological trick; it’s also a deeply personal experience connected to the spaces we move through and the things we touch.
Photo credit: Shawn Poynter
Maya Ciarrocchi is a Canadian American interdisciplinary artist living and working in the Bronx, NY. Her work emerges from a background in dance, choreography, and theatrical design, disciplines where movement, image, and space are inherently connected.
Maya drew inspiration from numerous conversations with Zuckerman researchers.
Much of the inspiration for The Shape of Memory came from the artist’s interactions with scientists at the Zuckerman Institute, including Dr. Benita Jin of the Stavros Niarchos Foundation Center for Precision Psychiatry & Mental Health; Zach Mayer of the Bendesky Lab; Dr. Sandra Romero Pinto of the Aronov Lab; Dr. Alexis Stutzman of the Marlin Lab; and principal investigators Dr. Andrés Bendesky and Dr. Tommy Vaughan.
Initial sketches for The Shape of Memory.
Maya Ciarrocchi’s work advances the mission of the Zuckerman Institute to help make science more accessible and interdisciplinary by breaking out from the expectations of traditional scientific programming.
***
Learn about our work with previous Artists in the Education Lab: Ezra Wube (2025) Sleepyfoot? (2024) Damali Abrams (2023) Dister Rondon (2021) and Ivan Forde (2020).
To get involved, tell us your ideas, or find out more, email us at [email protected].
CALL FOR ARTISTS 2027 will be announced in December 2026
