Black holes have long fascinated both scientists and art enthusiasts, inspiring creative minds across the globe. Once considered purely theoretical, these cosmic phenomena now serve as powerful symbols in visual art, exploring themes of emptiness, infinity, and the unknown. A compelling collection of such works is showcased in Conjuring the Void: The Art of Black Holes.

Author and curator Lynn Gamwell spent a decade leading the Gallery of Art and Science at the New York Academy of Sciences. With her expertise at the intersection of mathematics, science, and art, she was a natural speaker at Harvard’s Black Hole Initiative conference. Her insights laid the foundation for the book’s exploration of black holes’ influence on visual culture.

Gamwell highlights the surprising abundance of black hole-inspired art, especially from Asian traditions. She notes that the concept of a black hole aligns closely with Eastern philosophies like Buddhism and Taoism, which explore themes of void, impermanence, and inescapable cycles. Experts agree that these philosophical parallels deepen the artistic resonance of black hole imagery, making it a rich source of inspiration across disciplines.

This fusion of science and spirituality invites viewers to contemplate the universe’s mysteries through a creative lens, revealing how black holes ignite imagination beyond astrophysics.

David Nield

Dave is a freelance tech journalist with over 20 years covering gadgets, apps, and the web. From Stockport, England, he covers news, features, and reviews for TechRadar, focusing on phones, tablets, and wearables. He ensures top weekend breaking news and has bylines at Gizmodo, T3, PopSci, and others. He edited PC Explorer and The Hardware Handbook for years. Read me on x.com or linkedin.