Peter Krsko
Artist, Biophycisist & Educator
Rather than merely depicting nature, his practice investigates the material properties, growth algorithms, and systemic interactions of ecosystems to build immersive installations and foster youth mentorship.
Bio-Inspired Sculptural Forms
Integrating organic growth algorithms into physical structure
Intersecting Natural Science, Public Art, and Creative Education
In 2006, while working on a Ph.D. in Biophysics and Materials Science, Krsko discovered a way to use a traditional scanning electron microscope as a focused electron beam lithography instrument, enabling him to create artwork viewable only with a microscope. After receiving his degree, Krsko was awarded a fellowship at the National Institutes of Health, where his interests expanded into medically-relevant biological communities, bacterial biofilms, bioinspired materials, colors and vision and the combination of science and art in order to develop unique lesson plans for young students.
Krsko also creates collaborative and community public art, such as sculptures and murals, inspired by biological concepts of diversity, differentiation, participation and co-ownership. His sculptural installations mimic the structure and form of natural entities as well as the dynamics and laws of interactions among members of the ecosystems.
Biomimetic Art
Sculptures inspired by nature's structures, systems, and processes.
STEAM Integration
Curriculum teaching math, science and engineering through hands-on art projects.
Selected Works & Installations
Austin TX | Rockford IL
Astron
Site-specific outdoor sculptures in collaboration with Nathan SLOKE Nordstrom.
Bethesda MD
Flight at The Bethesdan
Commissioned by The Bethesdan Hotel and Bethesda Urban Partnership.
Madison WI
Epithelia
This series has been developed as a commentary on the relationship between humans and flora, namely trees. In today society, after the trees are harvested, they are cut up into straight sterile dimensional lumber, mostly for the construction industry. Tons of this lumber ends up in the landfills. Originally, Krsko recovered this refuse, ripped it into thin strips and created forms that mimic the former organic forms, thus completing the cycles of life and death.
Washington DC
Zebras
The mural was commissioned by The Edens, the developer of Union Market neighborhood in Washington DC.
Madison WI
Tessellations
The series of sculptural studies of natural space-filling patterns.
Wonewoc WI
Wonewoc History Mural
Place-making mural on 400 State Trail in Wonewoc, depicting the local history.
Eau Claire WI
Gates for Eaux Claires Festival
Site-specific sculptural gates welcoming the festival attendees.
Takoma Park MD
Symbiosys / Migratory Animals
Collaboration with Alicia DECOY Cosnahan, commissioned by Takoma Langley Business Improvement District.
Sauk County WI
Sculptures with Wormfarm Institute
Site-specific outdoor sculptures for Art/Farm DTour.
Washington DC
From Edgewood to the Edge of the World
Albus Cavus Collective created the largest mural in the Nation's Capital.
Chicago IL
Tree From Within 2
Created in Big Marsh Park for Chicago Sculpture International and Chicago Parks Department.
Selected Projects
Browse through Krsko's extensive catalog of research, art projects, and educational initiatives. Full CV here...
| Year | Project Title | Type | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Wonewoc Community Arts Center and Museum | Staff | Arts Center Link |
| 2025 | Astron | Sculpture | Program Web |
| 2023 | Tree From Within 2 | Sculpture | Press Release |
| 2020 | Merriweather District Artist | Residency | Press Release |
| 2014-24 | Wormfarm Institute | Sculptures | Art/Farm DTour |
| 2020 | Arts@Large Milwaukee | Teaching | Arts@Large Inc. |
| 2019 | St. Croix Watershed Research Station | Residency | Program Info |
| 2017 | The Bubbler Residency | Teaching | Arts Midwest Story |
| 2017 | Zoethica at Olbrich | Exhibit | UW - Press Release |
| 2010-16 | Maryland Juvenile Detention Centers | Teaching | Culture Spot Report |
| 2017 | Interdisciplinary Artist Residency | Teaching | Official Residency Info |
| 2016-18 | Exoskeleton In Situ | Sculptures | East City Arts Story |
| 2015 | Apoptosis | Exhibit | Capitol Hill Corner |
| since 2010 | I am a Muralist | Commercial | Agency Website |
| 2014 | U.S. National Park Service | Residency | Program Info |
| 2014 | Temperament | Monolith | Exhibit | Washington Post |
| 2006-09 | National Institutes of Health | Fellowship | AP News |
| 2002-2010 | Albus Cavus Artist Collective | Staff | Albus Cavus Link |
Recent Press:
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Science-themed murals to be painted around Madison for Science to Street Art project by Jamie Perez | FOX47 | October 15, 2019 Murals at Dane County juvenile detention center encourage youth to 'look within' by Abigail Becker | The Cap Times | April 20, 2019 IN DEPTH: Local artists share stories, struggles by Erica Dynes | Reedsburg Times-Press | March 13, 2019 This festival aims to bridge the urban-rural political divide ‘in a time of rot’ by Jeffrey Brown | PBS News Hour | November 2, 2018 Thousands journey to Driftless Area for culture, agriculture and political subtext by Mary Louise Schumacher | Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | October 8, 2018 Art in the wild: 23 public installations to see this fall by Cindy Widner | Curbed Austin | Oct 4, 2018 City to Install 23 Temporary Public Artworks Across Austin This Fall Sightlines | August 29, 2018 Students Explore Science of Natural World While Building Large Sculptural Installations East City Arts | May 17, 2018 The Nature of Art - Bioinspired artist Peter Krsko by Steven Potter | Wisconsin People and Ideas | Summer 2017 Art Springs Up at Olbrich Gardens by John Hart | Wisconsin State Journal | May 3, 2017 Zoethica bridges the gap between art and science by Amanda Finn| Wisconsin State Journal | Apr 30, 2017 Artist/scientist Peter Krsko bends nature to his will by Michael Muckian | Wisconsin Gazette | April 9, 2017 The Art of Beehives, Foam, & Bubbles: An Interview with Peter Krsko by Miriam Krause | Sustainable Nano Podcast | March 31, 2017 Students Find Inspiration in Special Class Merging Science, Nature and Art by Kelly April Tyrrell | UW Press | March 9, 2017 Q&A: Artist Peter Krsko finds the art in science, and the science in art by Rob Thomas | The Capital Times | March 5, 2017 UW Arts Institute’s artist in residence looks to blend nature, art by Frances Smith | The Badger Herald | Mar 3, 2017 Former Fellow Follow-Up with Artist Peter Krsko, PhD by Shana Spindler (The NICHD Connection 10-04-2016) Writers and performers help release inmates’ locked-up creativity by Rosanne Skirble (The Wash Post 09-07-2016) Mural Honors Langley Park’s Diversity by Christina Scheltema (East City Arts 01-27-2016) Flower Avenue Murals Embellish Silver Spring Neighborhood by Raisa Camargo (Gazzette 01-05-2014) Farm/Art DTour a Marriage of Agriculture and Culture by Mary Louise Schumacher ( Journal Sentinel 10-17-2014) Creative programs relieve stress for prisoners, provide art for community by Virginia Terhune (Gazette 04-30-2014) Takoma Park Street Mural by Takoma Park City Television (Montgomery Community Media 04-29-2013) Giant murals have outsized effects on local neighborhoods by Rachel Sadon (ElevationDC 03-12-2013) One on One: Making Murals to Transform a City by Shilpi Paul (Urban Turf 03-18-2013) Murals in Washington DC by Philippa Thomas (BBC World News April 2010) Artist Giving DC A Hand At Voting by Wisdom Martin (Fox News 04-14-2010) Legal graffiti artists create murals around D.C. by Ann Cameron Siegal (The Washington Post 01-15-2010) A Boundary Redrawn: Edgewood Mural Is Largest Ever in Washington by Dan Zak (The Washington Post 08-23-09) D.C. Mural Jam Aims to Create Positive Venue for Graffiti Art - by Martin Ricard (The Washington Post 08-20-09) Edgewood Mural by David Furst (NPR, Metro Connection on WAMU 07-17-09) |
Connect & Collaborate
Interested in commissioning a public sculpture, mural, or hosting a STEAM workshop? Get in touch: