Unfolding the Universe: Wondering through Space and Time

Ashley Zelinskie’s Unfolding the Universe: Wandering Through Time and Space invites viewers to journey beyond the boundaries of Earth and into the far reaches of the cosmos. Zelinskie explores the intersection of art and science, highlighting the contributions of the European Space Agency (ESA) to the James Webb Space Telescope mission. Through monumental silk, textile, and copper sculptures inspired by Webb’s breathtaking imagery, this exhibition creates an immersive encounter with deep space.

In the front space, Fabric of Spacetime brings the beauty of nebulae to life through large-scale textile works inspired by iconic images from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. These monumental, floor-to-ceiling raw silks were created in collaboration with Out of Seam. Visitors can touch and engage with the artwork, allowing them to transcend the boundary between fabric and space, offering a unique, tactile experience of the cosmos.

In the back space, visitors enter Unfolding the Universe: An ESA Webb VR experience: a projection-mapped environment that bridges physical and virtual space. A new VR experience, created in collaboration with ESA, invites viewers to ascend a spiral stairway lined with portraits of European Webb scientists, each voice-activated to share their role in the mission. At the center, an animated rocket launches upward as viewers climb, culminating in a portal to the VR work Unfolding the Universe. This room extends the fabric of spacetime into story, motion, and memory, honoring not just what we see in the cosmos, but who made that vision possible.

Special Events and TalksThese events are free for all to visit. Meet the artist and hear all about her projects. In addition, you can talk to an ESA or NASA scientist!

- Saturday 6 September 16:00–20:00: Opening Reception at TORCH

- Sunday 7 September, 14:00 - 16:00: Art & Astronomy Talk at TORCHWith Ashley Zelinskie & Lorenzo Speri of ESA on Gravitational Waves and the LISA Mission

- Saturday 13 September, 17:00 - 18:00: Art & Astronomy Talk for Echobox, live from NAP+ Art Fair (can't be attended in person)With Ashley Zelinskie & Maximilian Guenther of ESA on Exoplanets. They discuss how cutting-edge space research fuels artistic imagination and how artists, in turn, reshape our cosmic perspective. This deep space transmission from Amsterdam’s most experimental art fair bridges galaxies and galleries.

- Sunday 14 September, 16:00 - 17:00: Art & Astronomy Talk at TORCHWith Ashley Zelinskie & Nora Luetzgendorf of ESA on the James Webb Space Telescope

- Sunday 26 October 14:00 - 15:00: Closing Event at TORCHArtist Talk with Ashley Zelinskie & Maggie Masetti of NASA Webb Telescope Team

Would you like to attend one or more of these events? RSVP by sending an email: [email protected]