Dissecting Art, Intersecting Anatomy: Merging contemporary art with the works of Pauline Lariviere. This exhibit was organized by a small group of esteemed Chicago-based artists and entrepreneurs interested in medical art, and guest-curated by the ever fabulous Vanessa Ruiz of Street Anatomy.

“The exhibition is an homage to Pauline Lariviere (1906–1988), a French-Canadian artist whose fame came from her extensive work in medical and anatomical illustration. Lariviere had a very distinctive style that came from her use of abstraction and pairing of modern art into a scientific field. Contrary to the accepted style of realistic medical illustrations in the 1940s (which relied on small, crowded labels to convey information), Lariviere created charts and illustrations that isolated areas and processes of human anatomy that she wanted to portray, gave alternative perspectives, and created her charts in vibrant colors specifically to make them aesthetically appealing. Her revolutionary style is still used in medical illustrations today.”

Medical illustration by Pauline Lariviere

Dissecting Art, Intersecting Anatomy

Medical illustration by Pauline Lariviere

Contributing artists in Dissecting Art, Intersecting Anatomy exhibit

Dissecting Art, Intersecting Anatomy

I headed up to Chicago from Asheville for the gallery opening. With me were a couple of my friends, Diana Bellgowan and Cherie Montou. We were treated to an architect’s walking guide tour of the early sky scrapers of Chicago (and for a great read on the early days of Chicago architecture – check out Devil in the White City by Erik Larson.) We also stopped at The Art Institute of Chicago, and saw the Picasso exhibit.


Dissecting Art, Intersecting Anatomy

Medical illustrations on display at the exhibit.

Dissecting Art, Intersecting Anatomy

Scenes from the opening.