Photo credits: Berenice Olmedo, Aithér, courtesy of the artist and Jan Kaps Gallery. Portraits courtesy of the participants

In November, the Medical Humanities Research Institute partnered with the Moody Center for the Arts to co-organize the Fall 2025 presentation of the Moody’s long-standing signature program, Artists-in-Dialogue. Exploring the intersection of art and the biomedical sciences through an interdisciplinary conversation, the event was offered in conjunction with Moody’s fall exhibition, Bio Morphe–a presentation of contemporary artworks inspired by organic forms with a specific focus on the human body.

Moderated and co-organized by Dr. Kirsten Ostherr, Director of MHRI, the event featured Dr. Ricardo Nuila, Director of the Humanities Expression and Arts Lab at Baylor College of Medicine, and exhibiting artist Berenice Olmedo.The dialogue was initiated by and centered on the work of  Olmedo, whose sculptures incorporate materials from the clinical environment, such as prostheses and orthotics, to challenge “the notion of human wholeness” and interrogate “the extent to which external aids are essential to human existence.” Her work fundamentally rejects the pursuit of perfection undertaken by clinicians and instead emphasizes a “more physical, political, and existential contemporary experience,” a mission that closely aligns with the objective of the critical inquiries undertaken within the medical humanities.

Allison Weaver, Suzanne Deal Booth Executive Director of the Moody, highlighted the vital role of the Medical Humanities Research Institute in furthering the impact of artistic expression. 

"Partnering with Professor Ostherr and Medical Humanities on the occasion of our Bio Morphe exhibition exemplifies how the intersection of arts and sciences can foster conversation around critical topics such as medical research, patient outcomes and the importance of our shared humanity, especially under difficult circumstances,” Weaver stated. “The conversation between exhibiting artist Berenice Olmedo and hospitalist Dr. Ricardo Nuila highlighted the complementary powers of creativity and medicine in a way that inspired empathy and furthered our understanding of the complex issues at stake."

More details on Bio Morphe can be found at moody.rice.edu/exhibitions/bio-morphe.