A panel of six people, five men and one woman, are seated on tall wooden stools facing an audience, with a woman standing at a red podium on the far right. Behind them, a large screen displays headshots and names of individuals, including

NC State ECE, IConS and NSF ASSIST Center Join Interdisciplinary Exhibit: Your Brain on Art at the Gregg Museum

Electrical engineering plays a pivotal role in transforming how art is created, experienced, and understood—powering interactive installations, enabling immersive sensory experiences, and bridging the gap between technology and human expression. NC State’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Professor Alper Bozkurt joined an extraordinary interdisciplinary collaboration that has culminated in the launch of the new exhibition, Your Brain on Art: Reimagining the Gregg Museum Collection, currently on view at the Gregg Museum of Art & Design.

July 1, 2025     Colleen Brown

Electrical engineering plays a pivotal role in transforming how art is created, experienced, and understood—powering interactive installations, enabling immersive sensory experiences, and bridging the gap between technology and human expression. NC State’s Electrical and Computer Engineering Professor Alper Bozkurt joined an extraordinary interdisciplinary collaboration that has culminated in the launch of the new exhibition, Your Brain on Art: Reimagining the Gregg Museum Collection, currently on view at the Gregg Museum of Art & Design.

Inspired by the best-selling book Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transform Us by Susan Magsamen and Ivy Ross, the exhibit explores the profound impact of art on the human brain and body. Bozkurt— McPherson Family Distinguished Professor in Engineering Entrepreneurship from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and Co-Director of both the NSF ASSIST Center and the NC State Institute of Connected Sensor Systems—collaborated with a diverse team of NC State faculty to bring this vision to life.

A wide shot of a brightly lit art gallery with white walls and a dark floor. Various artworks are displayed, including large colorful paintings, sculptures on pedestals, and framed pieces. On the right, a long white table with several yellow chairs is set up, appearing to be a workspace or activity area.

Interdisciplinary and Cross-College Collaboration

The curation team reflects the breadth of innovation and inquiry at NC State reflecting the “Think and Do” spirit:

  • Alper Bozkurt, ECE – neural interfaces and neuroengineering
  • Valeria López Torres, College of Design – interaction design and user experience
  • Victoria Ralston, College of Humanities and Social Sciences – interdisciplinary, interactive artworks exploring identity and storytelling
  • John Meitzen and John Godwin, College of Sciences – genetics, neurobiology, and behavioral neuroscience

Together, they have crafted an immersive, sensory-rich experience that blends neuroscience, technology, and art to highlight the transformative effects of creativity on well-being.

Experience the Exhibit

Visitors to Your Brain on Art can engage with interactive artworks that include painting, collage, photography, sound art, and more. The exhibit offers:

  • A mindfulness drawing lab
  • A sound station designed by the Gregg’s education team
  • Quotes from Your Brain on Art guiding the sensory experience
  • A chance to win a free copy of the book via a raffle at the Visitor Services desk

The exhibit emphasizes findings that are reshaping fields such as neuroaesthetics and arts-based therapy. With growing medical recognition, even doctors are prescribing museum visits to help treat conditions from loneliness to dementia.

The exhibit opened with a vibrant panel and reception in March 2025, moderated by Gavin Bell, Assistant Director of Multicultural Student Affairs, delving into topics ranging from creativity and neural pathways to emotion, body, and electricity.

Plan Your Visit

Your Brain on Art: Reimagining the Gregg Museum Collection is open Tuesday–Saturday through September 27, 2025. Admission is free and all are welcome.

Visit the official exhibit page for more details.

Join us at the Gregg Museum to discover how art and science intersect to illuminate the inner workings of the mind and celebrate the healing power of creativity.

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