BIO5 Institute celebrates generous art donation from Melissa Lowe and Jory Hancock, honoring Marvin Lowe’s legacy
A large and generous collection of artwork by the late Marvin Lowe was added to buildings of BIO5 Institute earlier this year.
(Left to right) Kate Riley, BIO5 director of finance, operations, and research administration, Melissa Lowe, Jennifer Barton, BIO5 director, and Jory Hancock admire one of the pieces of artwork located in the Biosciences Research Laboratories.
The BIO5 Institute is honored to announce the addition of more than 20 pieces of artwork by the late Marvin Lowe, thanks to a generous donation from Melissa Lowe and Jory Hancock. The newly acquired collection is now prominently displayed in the Thomas W. Keating Research Building and the Biosciences Research Laboratories (BSRL), where the art enhances the institute’s inspiring environment that bridges the worlds of art and science.
"At BIO5, we strive to create environments encouraging collaboration and inspiring new ideas,” said BIO5 Institute director Jennifer Barton. “Marvin Lowe’s artwork has brought an incredible new dimension to our space. The buildings, particularly BSRL feel transformed. This collection of beautiful and thought-provoking pieces does more than add color; it sparks connections and creativity. You can get lost in the colors and lines, only to find your mind firing with fresh ideas. It truly embodies the spirit of 'beauty and brains' that we aim to cultivate here at BIO5."
The donated works reflect Marvin Lowe’s lifelong fascination with science, music, and art, a passion that deeply informed his artistic vision.
Throughout a 55-year career, Lowe often explored themes of physical forces and scientific phenomena in his art. He once remarked, “Many of my pieces give a visual representation of the physical forces that we know exist in the universe.” This unique artistic approach has now found a fitting home at BIO5, where scientific innovation thrives.
“It's important that we share our rationale and motivation for donating this specific group of works chosen, especially for the BIO5 Institute research buildings. Marvin Lowe’s passion for marrying art with science and music is apparent in his work,” Melissa Lowe and Jory Hancock shared. “The U of A campus is home to phenomenal scientific research and fresh discoveries. The BIO5 Institute houses people whose minds and hearts are stirred by the same creativity as any artist, and it’s an honor to share that passion with them through the Marvin Lowe Art Collection. “
Marvin Lowe’s distinguished career as an artist included over 200 exhibitions worldwide, and his work is part of more than 80 private, public, university, and corporate collections, such as those at the Smithsonian Institution, Library of Congress, Art Institute of Chicago, British Museum, and the John F. Kennedy family’s private collection.
His career spanned multiple disciplines, initially beginning as a tenor saxophonist in jazz before transitioning to visual art. His work as an artist eventually led him to a celebrated teaching career in higher education, including a significant tenure at Indiana University.
Melissa Lowe and Jory Hancock, who recently retired from the University of Arizona after more than 30 years of building one of the top collegiate dance programs, felt that the BIO5 Institute would be an ideal place for Lowe’s works. “We wanted to share my father's art with a community that embraces the convergence of art and science,” said Lowe. “The BIO5 Institute, with its dedication to innovative research, seemed like the perfect place to honor his legacy.”
The donation, which includes monotypes incorporating scientific elements such as mathematical formulas, chemical symbols, and diagrams, resonates with the institute’s mission to foster interdisciplinary collaboration.
“The addition of Marvin Lowe’s artwork adds a profound layer of inspiration to our research spaces. His pieces invite our students, staff, and faculty researchers to reflect on the beauty and complexity of the universe, much like scientific discovery itself,” Barton added.
The collection’s installation is especially suited to the design of the Keating and BSRL buildings, which emphasize openness and natural light, creating an environment where the arts can complement the scientific endeavors taking place within. The new collection of textures, patterns, colors, and forms will be accessible to both the campus community and visitors, continuing Lowe's legacy of inspiring curiosity and creativity.
To book a tour of the BIO5 Institute and explore its artwork and research laboratories, fill out the Request a Tour of the BIO5 Institute form.