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Walking into Fusion: A STEAM Gallery at Orlando Science Center, I immediately sensed that this exhibition was asking something different of its visitors. Space for Art is not centered on technical milestones or engineering triumphs alone. Instead, it invites you to slow down and consider space exploration through a deeply human lens shaped by creativity, emotion, and shared responsibility.
On display December 13, 2025, through April 4, 2026, Space for Art arrives at Orlando Science Center through a partnership with the Space for Art Foundation and Space for a Better World.
From the moment the exhibition begins to unfold, it becomes clear that this is as much about healing and connection as it is about science. It explores how creativity and space exploration intersect, and how art can translate the awe of discovery into something personal, reflective, and shared.
Where Art and Space Exploration Meet
Fusion: A STEAM Gallery is located on Level 3 of Orlando Science Center, a space dedicated to showing how art and design are essential complements to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. That context matters. Space for Art feels at home here, in a gallery built around the idea that creativity is not separate from innovation, but central to it.
As I moved through the gallery, I noticed how naturally art and science coexist. The works do not compete for attention. Instead, they speak to one another. Together, they tell stories of exploration, resilience, and curiosity that feel grounded in lived experience rather than abstract theory.
Curated by astronaut, artist, and Space for Art Foundation founder Nicole Stott, the exhibition is rooted in a simple belief: creativity belongs to everyone. Through the Space for Art Foundation, Stott has worked with children from all walks of life, inviting them to express hope, curiosity, and imagination through art.
Some of those works have traveled far beyond the classroom, with select pieces even journeying to the International Space Station.
The BEYOND Spacesuit: A Global Canvas of Connection
Before stepping fully into the gallery on Level 3, the heart of the exhibition appears in an unexpected place. The BEYOND Art Spacesuit is displayed in the Level 2 lobby, where visitors encounter it as part of the natural flow through the building.
BEYOND is far more than a striking object. It is a wearable canvas quilted together by ILC Dover Astrospace, the manufacturer behind NASA’s EVA spacesuits. The suit brings together more than 800 pieces of artwork created by children in every country around the world, forming a single, collaborative work.
Created during the COVID-19 pandemic, BEYOND emerged as a global symbol of unity, resilience, and shared responsibility. Standing in front of it, I was struck by how clearly it communicates its message without words. Each small piece matters, yet it is the collective whole that carries the weight of meaning. BEYOND reflects the idea that we are all crewmates aboard what Nicole Stott often describes as Spaceship Earth.
From the United Nations to Orlando
BEYOND’s story extends far beyond Orlando. After debuting at the UN Climate Change Conference, the spacesuit traveled internationally, reminding audiences of the deep connections between personal health and planetary health.
Its installation at Orlando Science Center marks the latest chapter in that journey. Here, the suit becomes a focal point that ties together the exhibition’s themes of unity, environmental awareness, and care. Seeing BEYOND in this setting reinforces the idea that exploration is not just about discovery, but about responsibility and connection.
Artwork Shaped by Spaceflight and Science
Inside Fusion: A STEAM Gallery, Space for Art expands beyond BEYOND into a thoughtfully curated selection of works created by astronauts, scientists, and students. Together, they highlight the remarkable intersection of science, emotion, and creativity.
Paintings and textile works by astronauts Karen Nyberg, Richard Garriott, Alan Bean, Michael Collins, Don Gillespie, and Nicole Stott offer rare artistic insights shaped by firsthand spaceflight and analog missions. These pieces reveal how seeing Earth from space can transform perspective and deepen appreciation for its fragility.
Mixed-media works by artist E. Lee Wilson Jr. integrate Martian and lunar meteorite fragments, diamond dust, Florida sands, and seashells. The materials themselves tell a story, merging scientific discovery with artistic expression and grounding cosmic themes in elements drawn from Earth and beyond.
Selections from the Space Shuttle Art Collection and the Al Worden Collection add another layer through artifacts, poetry, and imagery. Together, these works illuminate the human side of NASA missions and demonstrate how art can translate exploration into shared human experience.
Creativity That Extends Beyond the Gallery
The spirit of Space for Art extends beyond observation. Inspired by the exhibition, Orlando Science Center developed the Spacesuit Design Challenge, encouraging participants to imagine and build wearable spacesuits using recycled materials.
As part of the exhibition’s broader programming, hands-on sessions invited families and visitors to explore tools, fabrics, and techniques that brought their spacesuit visions to life. These experiences reflected the same blend of innovation and artistic problem-solving seen throughout the exhibition.
The creative journey continues during Spark STEM Fest on February 14, 2026, when the Spacesuit Fashion Show takes place. Designs move from concept to runway, spotlighting ingenuity, sustainability, and bold ideas. Select winners will have the opportunity to meet astronaut Nicole Stott, who serves as one of the judges.
Right: “Endangered Harmony,” mixed media by astronaut Karen Nyberg.
Visiting Space for Art at Orlando Science Center
Before diving back into the artwork, it helps to know how this exhibition fits into a day at Orlando Science Center. Space for Art unfolds across the building, beginning with BEYOND and continuing upstairs in Fusion, where art and science share the same air. Here is a simple guide before you go.
| What to Know | Details |
| Exhibition Dates | December 13, 2025 – April 4, 2026 |
| Where to Find It | BEYOND Art Spacesuit: Level 2 lobby Fusion: A STEAM Gallery: Level 3 |
| Science Center Hours | 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Closed Wednesdays (except OCPS breaks) Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and Easter Sunday |
| Admission | Included with general admission |
| Ticket Prices (Online) | Youth (2–12): $22 Teen (13–17): $27 Adult (18+): $29 Senior (55+): $27 |
| Ticket Prices (Onsite) | Youth: $24 Teen: $29 Adult: $31 Senior: $29 |
| Members | General admission included |
| Address | 777 E. Princeton St. Orlando, Florida 32803 |
| Food & Breaks | 4Roots Cafe and The Coffee Spot inside the Science Center Outdoor food is welcome in Loch Haven Cultural Park |
| Accessibility | Wheelchairs and strollers are welcome |
| More Information | Visit: osc.org/fusion |
A visit unfolds best when there is time to move slowly between spaces. BEYOND makes its statement downstairs, while the gallery upstairs invites reflection. Together, they shape an experience that feels less like checking off exhibits and more like following a story as it unfolds.
A Space That Reflects Who We Are
What stayed with me most after experiencing Space for Art was how it reframes exploration. This exhibition reminds us that space is not only something we study, but something that reflects who we are and how we relate to one another.
By blending art, science, and creativity, Space for Art transforms exploration into a shared human story. It invites us to see ourselves not as distant observers of the universe, but as connected participants responsible for one another and for our little blue orb.
In a space designed to celebrate discovery, Space for Art offers a quieter kind of awe. It is the awe of collaboration, imagination, and the reminder that our future is shaped as much by creativity and care as it is by curiosity.
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