Laura Benetton Receives SEED Funding for Creative Encounters | Durham University

In August 2025, Laura Benetton was awarded SEED funding from Durham University to develop her interdisciplinary project as part of Creative Encounters, a collaboration that bridges contemporary art and scientific research. The project is being developed in partnership with Dr. Cobb from the Biophysical Institute, reflecting Laura’s ongoing commitment to integrating artistic practice with cutting-edge scientific inquiry.

Creative Encounters investigates the dynamic relationships between biological systems, perception, and visual representation. Drawing from biophysical research methodologies, Laura explores how cellular and molecular processes can inform and inspire artistic creation. The project emphasizes the translation of scientific observation into refined visual and conceptual narratives, combining rigor, experimentation, and critical reflection.

Through this collaboration, Laura Benetton and Dr. Cobb are developing work that interrogates the boundaries between art and science, focusing on the ways in which experimental data, biological processes, and aesthetic interpretation can intersect. The project seeks to create outputs that are both conceptually rigorous and visually compelling, offering insights into the processes that shape life while providing audiences with an opportunity to engage with scientific ideas through artistic interpretation.

The SEED funding from Durham University provides essential support for research, development, and experimentation, allowing Laura to pursue ambitious interdisciplinary objectives within a collaborative academic environment. Creative Encounters exemplifies her broader practice, which consistently merges analytical observation, material experimentation, and conceptual inquiry to produce work that is both intellectually and visually engaging.

Laura’s involvement in Creative Encounters highlights her role as a pioneering artist in the contemporary field of art-science collaboration. By working alongside leading researchers, she continues to develop projects that expand the possibilities of artistic research, fostering dialogue between disciplines and inviting audiences to explore complex scientific phenomena through the lens of contemporary art.