The 2018 Deem Distinguished Lecture at West Virginia University will be given by Rachel Sussman.

"Rachel Sussman is a fascinating interdisciplinary artist, frequently collaborating with scientists in pieces that explore a relationship between personal time and deep time,” said Michael Sherwin, associate professor in the School of Art and Design. “Her work has been featured in major media outlets and museums all over the world. She has also been a Guggenheim and MacDowell ColonyFellow, spoke about her work at the TEDGlobal conference in 2010, and was a 2016 TED Resident."

Sussman is known for her critically acclaimed, decade-long project "The Oldest Living Things in the World" combines art, science, and philosophy into a traveling exhibition and New York Times bestselling book. In 2014, she began developing new installation work deepening her explorations of personal and cosmic time, the universe, nature, philosophy, and beauty. With the support of the LACMA Lab, and working with SpaceX, NASA, and CERN, and her new work can be found at MASS MoCA, the New Museum Los Gatos, and the Des Moines Art Center. She is currently an artist in residenct with the SETI Institute. Her exhibition record spans more than a decade in museums and galleries in the US, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia.

Sussman will speak at 5 p.m. Feb. 8 in Bloch Learning and Performance Hall at the Creative Arts Center. 

Funded by Patrick and Alison Deem, the Deem Distinguished lecture began more than 20 years ago. The annual event helps further the WVU education experience by exposing students and faculty to cutting-edge artists and arts supporters.