SWEET NOTHINGS

A wildlife biology course about sex for artists.

With lectures by guest research biologists on:
Love songs, mating dances & courtship rituals, pollination and seed spreading, sexual selection, social structures, gender rolls, mating styles and sexual identity in the wild.

10 webinars in June, 2026
Applications due March 22, 2026

Scientists:
Sweet Nothings is a ten day webinar for artists to learn about sex in the wild directly from research scientists. The program offers daily video lectures and chats with 9 international biologists engaged in cutting edge research that explores reproductive strategies across a broad range of speices including birds, bees, plants, fungi, bacteria.

Artists:
Biophilium residencies are designed to facilitate research that will enrich conceptual artists' practice within a small group of like minded creative people. Visual artists, writers, musicians, film makers and dancers are invited to apply. A jury selects a group of artists based on their portfolios and interests. Resident's are invited to present their creative practices to the group. Built into the 2 - 2.5 hours of daily programming are discussions, demonstrations, recommended assignments and show and tell. Participants are invited to also have short daily one-on-one meetings or studio visits with our director and the other residents in the group.

Artists do not need to have any previous naturalist or biology experience to participate. Participants have opportunities to engage directly with scientists and bio artists..

Jumping Spider mating dances with the Institute for Research in Sensing at the University of Cincinnati

Bower Birds: Sexual selection and non human aesthetic

How birds learn their mating songs with Cornell University

Gender Bending Marine Life: Sequential hemaphroditism of the Clown Fish with the University of Illinois

Pseudosexual plants that lure polinators by mimicking sexual behavior of animals with the Canadian National Museum of Nature

Liminal Sexualities: Hemaphoditic sea slugs with the AOW Thai Marine Ecology Center

Fungi can have thousandes of mating types, need many to be be present to produce ofspring and mate for life so intimately they become each other

Horizontal gene transfer: Bacteria share traits with friends with U of Ottawa

Parasitic Castration prolongs the life of and strengthens the host

Non monogamous parenting strategies of animals

Birds and the Bees: Pollinators and Philosophies of Vegital Sex with Kingston University, London

You are invited to present your work to the group in a short artist talk

Cost 
$600 USD

We are flexible and forgiving with application formats and deadlines. For best results let us know what you do and what you'd like to study with us as early as possible.

Residency places are limited to 8 artists.

Click here to see all the artists who have studied biology and ecology with us.

		"I'm so glad I went!" -Printmaker, Claire LaFontaine (Germinate 2018)
I want to take all the Biophilium residencies. It was honestly life-changing for me :)  Jenna Marks, Germinate 2021		"Your residency has opened up so many doors for me in so many ways, including fostering meaningful connections with other artists around the world. Your residencies started me off on a great, ongoing adventure. My art has developed and grown tremendously since discovering Ayatana’s Biophilium."  Mary Abma, Symbiosis 2022, Biophilia & Germinate 2020
Your residency changed my life— It solidified my practice and gave me insights I never would have had access to outside of pursuing a Master’s or PhD. Everyone who gathers at your digital table benefits, and I will forever be grateful for your existence. I love you, Biophilium!!! Mystery comment from IG		Click here to see all the artists who have studied biology and ecology with us.

More with the Biophiolium this year