Anatomy of Sports

August 19, 2019

I had an incredible time at Anatomy of Sport day at the National Museum of Health and Medicine! The event brings together scientists, educators, and artists to explore the amazing ways our bodies move in athletics.

For this visit, I painted the musculature directly on a volleyball player’s skin, bringing the anatomy of motion to life in a very literal way. Watching the muscles stretch and flex as she jumped and reached for the ball was an unforgettable way to show how anatomy drives athletic performance.

This was actually my second volleyball player for Anatomy of Sport—I painted the first one back in 2015. I’ve also painted a runner in 2013 and a karate practitioner in 2016. That year was extra special because my daughter came along: I painted the mother, and she painted her daughter, who also practiced martial arts. It was such a fun, hands-on way to explore anatomy and movement together.

Events like this are a perfect example of how art and science intersect. By painting anatomy directly on the body, we make the mechanics of movement tangible, interactive, and visually striking—showing just how incredible the human body really is.