RSU Anatomy Museum to open exhibition of watercolors by British artist Andrew Carnie

Carnie has been working at the intersection of art and science for several years, inspiring the RSU Anatomy Museum to become a space where anatomy meets artistic experience. In his latest contribution, he presents Someone I Know, a series of watercolours in which the contours of the head become a platform for visualising processes in the body and psyche. To medical professionals, the works may resemble contemporary radiological images, yet the artist invites viewers to look deeper – into what remains inaccessible to current technologies.

'This series began as a visual response to problems with my right eye, which ultimately led to retinal detachment and surgery. The works were an emotional reaction: the possibility of losing my sight, for someone whose life is so closely tied to visual perception, was a profound shock. The shape of the head served as a space – almost like a stage – where I could explore myself through scientific ideas, creating a poetic experience of presence and living existence. They also reflect insights I have gained during long-term collaborations with scientists working on magnetic resonance, computed tomography, the microbiome, neuroscience, and human anatomy,' explains the artist.

Carnie is an internationally acclaimed figure in British contemporary art, known for blending art and science. He works across painting, sculpture, installations, and large-scale video projections, exploring themes such as metabolism, neurological conditions, heart transplants, and human perception. His works have been exhibited at prestigious venues including the London Science Museum, the Rotterdam Natural History Museum, the Dresden Hygiene Museum, the Pera Museum in Istanbul, the Moravian Gallery in Brno, and numerous other institutions across Europe, the USA, and Asia.

He studied at Goldsmiths, University of London, and the Royal College of Art, London, was a Picker Fellow at Kingston University, taught for many years at Winchester School of Art, and has also served as a visiting professor at the Latvian Academy of Art.