Jess Holz
@jessholz.bsky.social
Artist and microscopist. MFA art + technology, but work in a neuro lab by day. Insects, neurons, electron microscopy… follow me to see lots of plankton videos…
jessholz.com
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Jess Holz
@jessholz.bsky.social
· Nov 16
Hello hello world. I’m on here now. I am a microscope addict. I do a lot of plankton chronophotography, see below video of vorticella feeding currents. I love the microworld and consider myself an advocate for these tiny creatures, I like to make them visible. Will post more soon
I like doing side by side, phase contrast and fluorescence, to really see the transformation. #microscopy
January 31, 2026 at 3:04 AM
I like doing side by side, phase contrast and fluorescence, to really see the transformation. #microscopy
For #fluorescencefriday I present boring brown ‘junk’, debris, marine snow- consisting of decaying organisms and plant matter, that become colorful galaxies under fluorescence. I always wonder about the histories of living organisms present in these debris. Sample from the Charles river #sciart
January 31, 2026 at 3:02 AM
For #fluorescencefriday I present boring brown ‘junk’, debris, marine snow- consisting of decaying organisms and plant matter, that become colorful galaxies under fluorescence. I always wonder about the histories of living organisms present in these debris. Sample from the Charles river #sciart
thanks that’s sorta what I thought.
January 27, 2026 at 4:00 AM
thanks that’s sorta what I thought.
At first I was reminded of a vorticella axoneme, but that’s not what this is. The tissue looks a bit plant-like to me but I really can’t tell what it is. I’ve found it before in my water samples, rarely. Giving my fb microscopy group a run for their money with these photos.
January 27, 2026 at 1:11 AM
At first I was reminded of a vorticella axoneme, but that’s not what this is. The tissue looks a bit plant-like to me but I really can’t tell what it is. I’ve found it before in my water samples, rarely. Giving my fb microscopy group a run for their money with these photos.
Anyone know what the coiled structure is in these fluorescence photos? The coil seems to be only visible if the tissue is destroyed. 200-400x magnification, autofluorecence of a sample collected from punching through ice in a shallow part of the Charles river, Boston. #sciart #microscopy
January 27, 2026 at 1:08 AM
Anyone know what the coiled structure is in these fluorescence photos? The coil seems to be only visible if the tissue is destroyed. 200-400x magnification, autofluorecence of a sample collected from punching through ice in a shallow part of the Charles river, Boston. #sciart #microscopy
If anyone wants to listen to my artist talk on plankton painting moderated by @pgirguis.bsky.social it’s up here :) youtu.be/66F5FQskmW0?... #sciart #microscopy
Jess Holz artist talk - Plankton Painting solo show @ Harvard Ed Portal
YouTube video by Brittany Paris Archived
youtu.be
January 22, 2026 at 5:25 PM
If anyone wants to listen to my artist talk on plankton painting moderated by @pgirguis.bsky.social it’s up here :) youtu.be/66F5FQskmW0?... #sciart #microscopy
sure! here is the poem
January 19, 2026 at 3:22 PM
sure! here is the poem
Thanks everyone for coming to the opening of Plankton Paintings: Footprints of the Invisible. Had great turnout and the artist talk went well. My mom, sister, and friend from Milwaukee even flew out. Super special to share this with everyone. #sciart
January 17, 2026 at 9:59 PM
Thanks everyone for coming to the opening of Plankton Paintings: Footprints of the Invisible. Had great turnout and the artist talk went well. My mom, sister, and friend from Milwaukee even flew out. Super special to share this with everyone. #sciart
Plankton Paintings: Footprints of the Invisible now on display until feb 19th at Harvard Ed Portal. Super exciting to see this come together. Opening reception next thursday 5-7pm, would love to see you there! #sciart #microscopy
January 10, 2026 at 2:41 PM
Plankton Paintings: Footprints of the Invisible now on display until feb 19th at Harvard Ed Portal. Super exciting to see this come together. Opening reception next thursday 5-7pm, would love to see you there! #sciart #microscopy
The installation will feature timelapse microscopy paintings, lots of new video work, and even a plankton altar. Working on editing my fluorescence work now for a special fluorescence 'section', vid shows some green fluorescent vorticella I thought were cool. #sciart #fluorescencefriday
December 20, 2025 at 4:31 PM
The installation will feature timelapse microscopy paintings, lots of new video work, and even a plankton altar. Working on editing my fluorescence work now for a special fluorescence 'section', vid shows some green fluorescent vorticella I thought were cool. #sciart #fluorescencefriday
I'm super excited to announce a solo exhibition at Harvard Ed Portal featuring my timelapse Plankton Paintings: hrvd.me/gallery-holz. Opening reception Jan 15, 5-7pm, at 6pm I'll be doing an artist talk in conversation with @pgirguis.bsky.social Would love if you could join! #sciart #microscopy
December 20, 2025 at 4:23 PM
I'm super excited to announce a solo exhibition at Harvard Ed Portal featuring my timelapse Plankton Paintings: hrvd.me/gallery-holz. Opening reception Jan 15, 5-7pm, at 6pm I'll be doing an artist talk in conversation with @pgirguis.bsky.social Would love if you could join! #sciart #microscopy
When the brain states back: spooky neuron faces I’ve found, for halloween (‘eye’ see u…) #sciart #electronmicroscopy #pareidolia
October 31, 2025 at 11:35 PM
When the brain states back: spooky neuron faces I’ve found, for halloween (‘eye’ see u…) #sciart #electronmicroscopy #pareidolia
yep! only a couple minutes of exposure time tho
October 30, 2025 at 6:12 PM
yep! only a couple minutes of exposure time tho
saw 3 tardigrade exoskeletons with a single egg inside, including this one in the timelapse above, anyone know much about this tactic?
October 27, 2025 at 12:02 AM
saw 3 tardigrade exoskeletons with a single egg inside, including this one in the timelapse above, anyone know much about this tactic?
October 27, 2025 at 12:01 AM
Had a blast at Artisans Asylum open studios scoping tardigrades. Made some fun timelapse too with the ciliates in the sample providing the ‘scribbles’. Def attracted nerdy types with the tardigrades, but even people who didn’t know what they were were captivated by their cute little wiggles.
October 26, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Had a blast at Artisans Asylum open studios scoping tardigrades. Made some fun timelapse too with the ciliates in the sample providing the ‘scribbles’. Def attracted nerdy types with the tardigrades, but even people who didn’t know what they were were captivated by their cute little wiggles.
Nice to see artwork from my new scope finally on paper. Gearing up for Artisans Asylum open studios this Saturday 2-7pm. I’ll be selling plankton stickers and will have a live tardigrade station! #sciart #microscopy
October 23, 2025 at 11:53 PM
Nice to see artwork from my new scope finally on paper. Gearing up for Artisans Asylum open studios this Saturday 2-7pm. I’ll be selling plankton stickers and will have a live tardigrade station! #sciart #microscopy
Boston folk, Artisans Asylum fall open studios is next Saturday, 2-7pm. I will be setting up a live tardigrade station in my studio! :) Would love to see you there. tinyurl.com/FallIntoMaking #sciart #microscopy
October 19, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Boston folk, Artisans Asylum fall open studios is next Saturday, 2-7pm. I will be setting up a live tardigrade station in my studio! :) Would love to see you there. tinyurl.com/FallIntoMaking #sciart #microscopy
I just love their pigment designs does anyone know about the function?
October 12, 2025 at 3:54 PM
I just love their pigment designs does anyone know about the function?
If anyone on here knows how to ID polychaete larva, I’d love to work with you on getting to the species level on these worms I always find in Boston harbor. I could provide a ton of photos, if I knew what to image for an ID. I know they are spionid but that’s it. #sciart #microscopy #plankton
October 12, 2025 at 3:53 PM
If anyone on here knows how to ID polychaete larva, I’d love to work with you on getting to the species level on these worms I always find in Boston harbor. I could provide a ton of photos, if I knew what to image for an ID. I know they are spionid but that’s it. #sciart #microscopy #plankton
These things are sooooo weird looking lol
October 12, 2025 at 3:39 PM
These things are sooooo weird looking lol