Welcome to Fragile Microbiomes, an exhibition by internationally renowned British artist Anna Dumitriu, exploring our relationship to the complex ecosystem of microbes that live in us and around us. The exhibition includes sculptures and installations made using bacteria, DNA, altered vintage objects, 3D printing, textiles, video and digital technologies.

Anna Dumitriu is an award-winning British artist and recognised as a pioneer in BioArt, an emerging area of artistic practice that brings together art and biology. Her curious and affecting artworks – tackling infectious diseases, microbiology, and antibiotics – are created hands-on by the artist both in the lab and in the studio. Central to her creative process is an extensive network of scientific collaborators across the world, including microbiologist Dr Jane Freeman from the University of Leeds. Dumitriu and Freeman have collaborated on many works in this exhibition, including three new works on display for the very first time.

Dumitriu has been exhibited at the Picasso Museum (Barcelona), Art Laboratory Berlin, Kunstlerhaus (Vienna) and The History of Science Museum (University of Oxford) among many others. Her work is held in several major collections, including ZKM in Germany, the Science Museum (London) and The Eden Project. She holds artist-in-residence roles with the University of Oxford and the UK Health Security Agency. You can find out more about Dumitriu’s previous exhibitions and portfolio of works here.

This exhibition marks the first collaboration between Dumitriu and Thackray.

Important notice: Due to the fragile nature of the art on display, this exhibition will be open to the public from 11am-3pm (Mon-Fri) and 10am-3pm (Sat, Sun & school holidays).