Ceramics
My name is Michal Ruprecht. I am an artist specializing in BioArt and an MD student at Wayne State University School of Medicine. I began my practice in 2022 at the University of Michigan Residential College, aspiring to create pieces that examine the intricacies of structural biology and nature.
I draw inspiration from the rich history of Michigan’s Great Lakes, human anatomy, trees, mushrooms, and yoga poses. I am fascinated by the binding problem of neurobiology: how our brain synthesizes conscious awareness through the integration of various stimuli. Through my work in BioArt, my goal is to contribute to public understanding of science, serving as a means to counteract misinformation.
Media coverage
Proteomic Panta Rhei
A BioArt inquiry into microbial membrane dynamics of the fluoride (Fluc) channel
Science misinformation has rapidly spread throughout America, oftentimes fueled by social media, elected officials, and conspiracy theorists. All Americans — including the youth — are struggling to decipher real facts from fabricated lies. To put it simply, Americans have been let down by institutions that should have cared more. Thus, developing better methods of science communication is vital.
While preparing my undergraduate thesis, I created three ceramic sculptures of the fluoride (Fluc) channel, the membrane protein I studied with members of the Randy Stockbridge Lab. While most ion channels are composed of one main unit, Flucs have two. This feature is usually only found in membrane proteins that use energy to pump ions across the cell membrane. Flucs, however, do not use energy. Through this series, my goal was to communicate the protein’s unique structure to the general public.
BioArt
From the studio
