Paul Vanouse, Professor of Art, Director of Coalesce

Department of Art, University at Buffalo

Special thanks to Arzu Ozkal, a UB alumnus who designed the Coalesce logo. 

Margaret LeJeune

Margaret LeJeune's Growing Light, which is a triptych that contains living media grown on three Petri dishes, which are illuminated by a bright turquoise light.

Growing Light

In the series Growing Light artist and climate communicator Margaret LeJeune develops cross-species collaborations with dinoflagellates and other bioluminescent organisms. In bringing the laboratory to the public, through unique photographic works that capture the fleeting glow of bioluminescence,  LeJeune calls attention to the ecological importance of often-invisible indicator species that warn of an irreversible changing planet. By harnessing their transitory light as part of the photographic process, LeJeune develops works that push the boundaries of traditional photography and emphasize the importance of non-human agency. Through the marriage of process, materials, and content, these works give the viewer a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of our world.  

Margaret LeJeune

Margaret LeJeune’s creative practice explores the relationship between art, science, and environmental studies. As a lens-based creator, she produces works that probe shifting landscapes, symbiotic relationships, and the nature of the photographic medium. In 2023, she was named the Woman Science Photographer of the Year by the Royal Photographic Society.