Fermilab has announced an ambitious 2026 collaboration pairing particle physics with artistic expression, selecting visual artist Eleftheria Lialios and composer Isaac Smith for its annual guest artist and composer program. Funded by the Fermi Forward Discovery Group, the initiative aims to translate the lab’s complex research into accessible and immersive experiences for the public. Lialios plans to transform data from cosmic ray telescopes and particle accelerators into visual narratives, stating, “I want to gather the data, see what’s interpreted from it and transfer that to a visual plane.” Smith, drawing on his background in mathematics and music, will focus on “data sonification,” believing “Music is the most abstract of the art forms; it takes place in time,” and can capture the emotional core of scientific discovery.
Fermilab Artist and Composer Program Fosters Public Engagement
Fermilab’s commitment to public outreach extends beyond traditional methods, embracing a unique program that merges art and science. A selection committee, comprised of both scientific and public engagement staff, carefully evaluates applicants based on their creative and academic backgrounds, prioritizing those eager to engage with Fermilab’s scientific endeavors. Lialios, whose work draws from psychology, anthropology, and photography, intends to visually represent complex data sets.
Meanwhile, Isaac Smith, holding a doctorate in music composition, will explore data sonification – the conversion of scientific data into sound. “Our artists and guest composers create works rooted in science that inspire and provoke thought,” said Georgia Schwender, Fermilab visual arts coordinator, anticipating the impact of their contributions, which will be unveiled in Wilson Hall in the latter half of 2026.
Eleftheria Lialios Transforms Particle Physics Data Visually
Lialios, whose work is informed by psychology, anthropology, and photography, will tackle the challenge of rendering the invisible world of particle physics into compelling visual experiences for the public in 2026. Researchers at the America’s premier national laboratory for particle physics rely on detectors that translate subatomic particles into interpretable data, typically represented through graphs and charts. However, Lialios aims to move beyond these standard representations, exploring how artistic perspectives can unlock new avenues for public engagement.
Lialios’s approach is deeply rooted in personal interpretation and tactile creation, having previously worked with large-scale transparencies, installations, and sculptural pieces. “Everyone interprets art based on who they are; that’s the individuation of art,” Lialios said, emphasizing the subjective nature of artistic reception. Her work, leveraging Fermilab’s tools and resources, promises to deliver novel visual narratives beginning in the latter half of 2026 within Wilson Hall.
Our artists and guest composers create works rooted in science that inspire and provoke thought.
Georgia Schwender, Fermilab visual arts coordinator
Isaac Smith Pioneers Data Sonification with Musical Abstraction
Isaac Smith, a composer with a doctorate in music composition from Indiana University, is poised to translate the unseen world of particle physics into auditory experiences at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory beginning in 2026. Smith’s work, facilitated by the Fermi Forward Discovery Group’s annual guest artist and composer program, centers on data sonification – the process of converting complex scientific data into sound.
