Cells Around the Globe: An Artistic Interpretation of Petri Dishes and the Journey of Henrietta Lacks’ Cells

Laura Phelps Rogers presents an installation inspired by Henrietta Lacks, whose cells traveled the globe without her family’s knowledge, transforming medical research. “The concept simmered for some time,” she explains. “I envisioned the ‘drum’ representing the world, surrounded by thousands of Petri dishes, but that would have required years of fabrication.” Instead, she created 180 abstract expressionist paintings, using automatism to channel subconscious connections to science and ethics. “Her cells have helped so many, yet her privacy was disregarded because she was Black.” This exhibition reflects on injustice, progress, and the vast reach of scientific discovery

Artist’s Bio

Laura Phelps Rogers is a sculptor working in bronze, iron, and metal fabrication, as well as photography and site-specific installations. “I can make people feel things,” she says of her art, which she considers memory-based.

She says, “Everything is based on what comes before it.” Inspired by Louise Bourgeois, her latest installation at the Fulginiti Pavilion reflects on Henrietta Lacks, scientific ethics, and the deep connections between art, history, and human experience.