Why we need artists on space missions | Laura J. Lawson | TEDxAustin College

We send art to space, so why not send artists? Artist Laura J. Lawson acknowledges the artistry and creativity of the people who have gone to space so far, but also notes that these astronauts spend the bulk of their time doing science and engineering tasks. She asks, what if art was the mission, and not the down-time activity? Can art be the key to a global shift in perspective for how we take care of planet Earth?

Laura J. Lawson is an interdisciplinary artist who connects the humanities to interstellar exploration. She has a B.A. from Austin College and an MFA from The University of Memphis. She was awarded a residency at the Centre d’Art Marnay Art Center in Marnay-sur-Seine, France, and was part of the first cohort of studio artists at the Cedars Union art incubator in Dallas. In 2026 she will join The Arctic Circle residency for a two-week voyage.

Her work has been shown in Vignette Art Fair, New Texas Talent XXVII, the Amarillo Museum of Art Biennial, and in international juried exhibitions. Her TEDx talk at Austin College stressed the importance of better standards for time and space to do creative work. Lawson works with the Lunar and Planetary Institute to foster collaboration between artists and scientists at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference through a series of workshops, which she is returning to for a third time in 2025. She is also full-time art faculty for Dallas College.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

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