Living Palettes: Painting with Bacteria
Written by Nicole Zhu
Edited by Brianna Beckham
Scientists have discovered a new canvas: agar plates. Their medium? Bacteria! In recent years, scientists have begun to blend traditional art forms with microbiology by painting with living organisms. Instead of paint, artists use living microbes such as Serratia marcescens, which produces bright red colonies; Chromobacterium violaceum, known for its deep violet hue; and Escherichia coli, which can be engineered to glow green or blue using fluorescent proteins. Rather than brushes, artists wield inoculation loops or sterile swabs, delicately streaking patterns across nutrient-rich agar plates. Over hours or days, the bacteria grow and multiply, forming naturally emerging textures and colors.
But creating bacterial art is far more complex than painting with pigments. Like most scientific experimental protocols, it demands sterile technique and understanding of microbial growth. Since different bacterial species grow at varying rates, artists must time their inoculations with precision. Temperature control also plays a vital role as incubation periods can affect both the speed of bacterial development and the vibrancy of their pigments. This means an artist can guide the process but not fully control the final outcome. Each piece carries a touch of unpredictability, making every work truly one-of-a-kind.
Photos from the CDC Public Health Image Library (left) and the NIH Image Gallery, via Wikimedia Commons (right). Curated by Hailey Foster (hf348@cornell.edu).
Though the concept may seem modern, microbial art has existed for nearly a century. Alexander Fleming, best known for discovering the first antibiotic, penicillin, also created “germ paintings” in the early 20th century. His works featured whimsical images such as buildings and even bacteriophages locked in boxing matches. Though initially a pastime, his creative experiments left a lasting mark. Decades later, the American Society of Microbiology launched its annual agar art contest which launched agar art to the international spotlight. It has expanded to over 30 countries, with various themed competitions for professionals, amateurs and anyone interested in microbial art.
Closer to home, the Cornell iGEM team’s Micromural Project embraced this fusion of science and art. In 2022, the team developed a method of combining biofilm proteins with chromoproteins to create hydrogel-based “microbial paints.” These living paints could form colorful, stable patterns that showcase microbial behavior in an artistic format. To make this process more engaging, the team designed hardware and software that allow these microbial paints to be printed in customizable designs. This innovative approach demonstrates how synthetic biology can move beyond the lab bench, turning microbes into an expressive medium that merges technology, biology, and art.
Photo from Stockcake. Curated by Hailey Foster (hf348@cornell.edu)
However, bacterial art comes with important safety and ethical considerations. While most bacterial art uses nonpathogenic strains,there’s always a risk of accidental contamination with more harmful bacteria. Pathogenic strains can spread through skin contact, inhalation, or improper disposal. Some microbes even survive on surfaces or in airborne droplets, increasing the risk of exposure. For these reasons, projects involving microbial painting should only use approved, low-risk strains in controlled lab environments.
It is incredible to think that nature can produce such stunning colors in places we would never expect, like inside tiny bacterial colonies. What might look invisible or mundane at first glance can become a vibrant display of reds, purples, greens, and blues, all created by living organisms. Microbial art reminds us that beauty can thrive even in the smallest, most unexpected corners of the natural world.
Nicole Zhu ‘28 is in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. She can be reached at nz274@cornell.edu.
