What if art could unlock the mysteries of science and reveal the hidden connections between technology, nature, and the human experience? In today’s podcast episode, host and NOT REAL ART founder Scott “Sourdough” Power sits down with Alison Hiltner, a visual artist based in Minneapolis and the Associate Director of the Soo Visual Arts Center. She is also a self-proclaimed “science fiction archaeologist” and one of six 2024 NOT REAL ART grant winners. Her fascinating and evocative work explores how science fiction shapes our understanding of scientific research.
Known for her immersive multimedia installations, Alison creates mind-blowing sensory experiences that bridge the gap between art and science, prompting us to rethink our perceptions of reality. Join us as we discuss the importance of making art accessible to a wider audience, how science fiction influences our views of ourselves and the world around us, and Alison’s intriguing creative process, which blends hands-on scientific experiences with her unique artistic vision. Don’t miss this episode to discover how her thought-provoking work can inspire us to see art and science in a new light. It’s a must-listen for artists, art enthusiasts, and anyone curious about the intersection of creativity and innovation.
Quotes From This Episode
“Maybe it's my life goal to somehow make going to [a museum, gallery, art space, or art experience] the same as going to see the latest [sci-fi film].” — Alison Hiltner [0:22:45]
“[Art] is an exploratory tool. It isn't limited to just one thing. The amazing thing about art is that it can be everything.” — Alison Hiltner [0:24:08]
“For all the times [I think], ‘Why did I choose this very weird career where I never have any monetary security?’ Then I think, ‘Oh, my God, there's nothing else that would allow me to do this crazy shit.’” — Alison Hiltner [0:49:48]
“[There are] so many facets to artistic expression. A lot of people think that the entire art world is impenetrable and that it is abstract expressionism, or Brâncuși bronzes, or all of these very beautiful, very real aspects of the art world. But there are a million different people telling a million different stories. That's part of the reason that I love the art world. I love working with artists because it's a way to find your perspective of the world being spoken out loud or visualized. Art gives you the chance to connect with people in a very real way. Your idiosyncrasies [and] your obsessions are also other people's idiosyncrasies and obsessions. It's a profound way to connect to everything around us.” — Alison Hiltner [0:14:47]
“Our current time is full of such extremes. Nobody wants to hear a dissenting opinion. Nobody wants a perspective that doesn't align with their own. It's just that much more important and just that much more difficult to present experiences that might shift your perspective a little bit and make you realize that there might be more to a belief system or a point of view than you have programmed yourself to believe.” — Alison Hiltner [0:18:16]
About Alison Hiltner
Alison Hiltner is a visual artist and the associate director of Soo Visual Arts Center, living and working in Minneapolis. Her visual arts practice explores how science fiction cinema influences our current understanding of scientific research and how that filter of knowledge will affect technological advancement in the future. This examination takes the form of multimedia installation and interactive display. Hiltner has exhibited nationally and internationally in solo and group exhibitions; some of her recent credits include shows at the Minneapolis Institute of Art and Telemark Art Center in Norway in 2017, the Weisman Art Museum in 2019, and 16 Tech in Indianapolis in 2020. She has received numerous Minnesota State Arts Board Artist Initiative Grants, three MRAC/McKnight Foundation Next Step Grants, the Jerome Foundation Fellowship in 2011/12, an Artists on the Verge Northern Lights/Jerome Foundation fellowship in 2013/14, a McKnight Fellowship in Visual Arts 2018-19, and an artist in residence at the University of Minnesota’s School of Medicine through an experimental program at the Weisman Art Museum in 2018-20. Most recently, Hiltner received the 2021 Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant, a 2025-26 Mcknight Fellowship in Visual Arts, and had a solo exhibition at UCLA Art | Sci Center in Los Angeles in 2022 and an upcoming solo exhibition at Practice Gallery in Philadelphia in 2025.