Galactic Gallery

Nowhere is the imagination more unfettered than in the endless realm of outer space, and the artists in the Cosmic Cafe's Galactic Gallery prove it!

To some degree, it all began with Chesley Bonestell, the Father of Modern Space Art. Long before Earthlings launched rockets and probes into the cosmos, he was painting realistic scenes of distant planets, including his famed Saturn As Seen From Titan (right).

But thousands of others have sketched, painted and digitized their visions of the endless cosmos. Some focus on the planets of our solar system, galaxies and other known elements of the universe while others create visions of imaginary worlds in the far reaches of outer space. The first work of art to actually make it into space was Arthur Woods' Cosmic Dancer sculpture, which blasted off on a Russian Soyuz rocket in May 1993 and took up residence in the late, great Mir space station. Floating about the Mir -- and even getting "lost" in its nooks and crannies -- the bright green sculpture delighted the cosmonauts, who treated it like a beloved pet.

Ars Ad Astra exhibit In 1995, the first formal art exhibition in space was launched. Called the Ars Ad Astra project, 20 works of art were selected by an international committee for exhibition on Mir (left). The name of the exhibit was "Space and Humanity." Though the crowds were limited, the collection was greatly appreciated by the Mir crewmembers. One of them, Thomas Reiter, said that the art is "a part of what is necessary to keep us alive, to keep our memory of the Earth, of our families, of our friends, of nature."

The Mir is no more, but you can still see the art that once graced it in the Galactic Gallery. Enjoy it and the rest of the our exibit!

Note: All of the artwork is the property of the artists and used here with permission. Any reproduction or use by anyone without written permission is illegal and punishable in a court of law.

Click on the thumbnails to see more of each artist's work.