OU Gibbs College of Architecture is pleased to announce that Nathalie Miebach, an acclaimed sculptor known for her interdisciplinary approach to art and science, has been appointed as the Goff Chair of Creative Architecture for 2025. As Goff Chair, Miebach is invited to give a public lecture in the upcoming semester, open to all Gibbs students, faculty, and staff.
In her upcoming lecture, Miebach will share insights into her innovative data-driven art process and the impact of aesthetics in scientific communication. The lecture will take place on Wednesday March 26, 2025, from 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Nielsen Hall, Room 170. It will be an opportunity for students, faculty, and practitioners to engage with a fascinating approach to creative data visualization and interdisciplinary storytelling.
Miebach explores the intersection of art and science by translating scientific data related to meteorology, ecology, and oceanography into woven sculptures and musical scores. Her main method of data translation is basket weaving, which serves as a tactile grid through which she interprets data into three-dimensional space. Central to her work is an exploration of the role that visual and musical aesthetics play in translating and understanding complex scientific systems, such as weather patterns and climate change.
The Floods by Nathalie Miebach (Source: Nathalie Miebach)
Currently serving as an Artist in Residence at the University of Virginia’s School of Data Science, Miebach continues to push the boundaries of interdisciplinary collaboration. Her unique artistic practice not only bridges the gap between artistic expression and scientific inquiry but also fosters a deeper appreciation for the ways in which art can make complex data more accessible and engaging.
Featured Image: Photograph of Nathalie Miebach from TED Talks
Gibbs College of Architecture is proud to recognize Petya Stefanoff, who is pursuing her doctorate in the Planning, Design & Construction (PDC) program, has been appointed the new role of Director of Community Development for the City of Shawnee, Oklahoma. She joined the city in 2024.
Gibbs College of Architecture is pleased to announce that Amber N. Wiley, Ph.D., associate professor in the Division of Planning, Landscape Architecture and Design and director of the Institute for Quality Communities, has received national recognition for her book Model Schools in the Model City. The book has been named a finalist for the 2026 the PROSE Awards.
Gibbs College of Architecture Regional + City Planning Professor of Practice Vanessa Morrison and Associate Professor of Architecture Deborah Richards’ Open Design Collective received top honors at the inaugural BlackSpace Urbanist Collective Studio KIN Pitch Night Competition, held last month in Brooklyn, New York City.
