On Friday, January 24, the UNM ARTSLab transformed into a cosmic gallery, hosting the Lunar Arts Award Exhibition, a celebration of the moon’s influence on human creativity
Sponsored by the Space Sustainability Research Grand Challenge, NASA CASA Moon Research Program, and ARTSLab, this event highlighted the intersection of art, science, and space exploration.
Out of more than 50 applicants, five UNM students were selected to bring their moon-inspired visions to life. The result? A stunning collection of works that blended technology, tradition, and imagination.
Dust to Dust – Lila Steffan
A breathtaking watercolor piece made from handcrafted pigments sourced from Earth minerals, mirroring those found on the moon. This project, developed in collaboration with a lunar geomorphologist, bridged the worlds of science and art in a visually striking way.
Phasing – Elan Retzlaff
This interdisciplinary installation wove together textiles and real-time video projections to explore the moon’s connection to gender fluidity and cultural identity. Through its shifting visuals, Phasing reflected the ever-changing nature of the lunar cycle.
Lunacy Enabled Synodic Realignment (LESR) – Austin Tecks & Amanda Stormyr
A VR installation that reimagined ancient beliefs about the moon’s influence on human emotions. This speculative, near-future therapeutic experience invited viewers to realign their emotional states through lunar cycles.
madre luna – Isabella Romero
A mesmerizing stop-motion animation that celebrated New Mexico’s nocturnal wildlife, indigenous ecological stewardship, and the moon as a guiding force in the face of climate change.
Grounding Moonlight – Madison Hailey Emond
A photographic series captured with a pinhole camera made from New Mexican clay, documenting the moon’s journey over the Rio Grande. A poetic meditation on time, place, and celestial movement.
Join organizers Madrone Matishak and Sarah Bennett Davidson for an overview of the New Mexico Dance Hackathon, an initiative bringing together dance and new media artists to experiment and create innovative work across performance, installation, and film. This info session offers a look at past projects, insights into the creative process, and details on how to apply for this year’s program, culminating in final presentations at UNM ARTSLab this July.
ARTSLab is excited to continue its partnership with Unity in Spring 2026 with two free webinars and two free 10-hour courses, open to anyone in the state of New Mexico.
ARTSLab was recently featured in two articles highlighting its work at the intersection of art, technology, and innovation, including student-led projects and a NASA-funded VR initiative.