This exhibition offers an insight into the insect world through the visual responses and interpretations of contemporary artists and makers to the entomological publications which, since the 17th Century, have recorded and illustrated these intriguing creatures.

Curators Dr. Elisabeth Darby and Prudence Maltby have selected artists working in different disciplines and media to mirror the rich diversity of the insect world. Through varied scales and materials and the narratives embedded in them, the aim is to draw attention not only to the myriad physical and behavioural characteristics of insects, but to the historical, cultural, and social associations they evoke.  Insect Odyssey celebrates contemporary artistic practice, champions the relationship between art and science, and highlights the crucial role played by insects in the environment.