Art on Mars with Nicole Stott

Human beings have created art for tens of thousands of years.

From prehistoric cave paintings to Renaissance masterpieces, photography, music, sculpture, and now even paintings created aboard the International Space Station, creativity has followed us everywhere we’ve gone.

So what happens when humanity reaches Mars?

This month in our special Everyday Mars series, retired NASA astronaut, artist, engineer, and author Nicole Stott joins us to explore one of the most overlooked aspects of settling another planet: art.

Nicole shares the story behind becoming one of the first astronauts to paint with watercolors in space, why astronauts are naturally creative problem-solvers, and how artistic expression may become essential for the psychological well-being of future Martians during months-long journeys across the solar system.

We also discuss photography as art, using Martian materials as creative mediums, whether future astronauts should leave murals on Mars, the importance of preserving our humanity while exploring space, and why creativity might be just as important as engineering when building a civilization on another world.

Nicole also discusses her incredible nonprofit, Space for Art Foundation, which brings together children from around the world through the healing power of art and the inspiration of space exploration.

Whether you’re an artist, engineer, scientist, educator, or simply someone fascinated by humanity’s future beyond Earth, this conversation offers a thoughtful look at one of the most human questions we can ask:

What will it mean to create art on Mars?

Featuring