I make things that help us connect—to one another and the universe. At the heart of my practice is a curiosity for empathy and alterity.

This interest in empathy comes from equal parts hope, stubbornness, and cynicism. I wanted to understand what inspires care. The research began by studying Daniel Batson’s Empathy-Altruism hypothesis. The hypothesis states that the more empathic concern we feel towards an entity, the more altruistic motivation we experience.

My work celebrates the poetics of science, art, and technology. I question the lengths and limitations of these fields when they intersect at the concept of empathy. I am inspired by science, broadly, and psychological literature informs my art making decisions—bringing something that is analyzed into something that is felt. Often, my work includes data collection in process and product.

Ultimately, your reality is vastly different than mine and I want to understand that.

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Emily (she/they) is a new media artist, communicator, and writer. Emily holds BA’s in Psychological Science and Studio Art from Gustavus Adolphus College and additionally studied Fine Arts Media at the Slade School of Fine Art. Their work takes the form of research, writing, and new media; including code, virtual reality, 3D modeling, web-based media, sound, and video.

Their work has been shown at the Target Gallery, the American Swedish Institute, Rosalux Gallery, Highpoint Center for Printmaking, Gustavus Adolphus College, and the School of Visual Arts in New York. They have received funding through the National Science Foundation, the Minnesota State Arts Board, Springboard for the Arts, and Gustavus Adolphus College. Currently, Emily works as a communicator at the Bell Museum and as a studio manager at Second Shift Studio Space.

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