Gallery Talk: Ghost in the Machine

Explore the intersection of art, science, and imagination in this gallery talk led by artist Timothy Makepeace, whose work responds directly to the James Webb Space Telescope. Makepeace was part of a select cohort invited by NASA to observe the telescope’s assembly before its 2021 launch, and his pieces capture the technological ambition, geometric elegance, and human presence embedded within the observatory. Rich in detail and expansive in scope, the talk considers how Makepeace transforms scientific observation into meditations on time, space, scale, and humanity’s search for meaning within the vastness of the cosmos.

When: Saturday, August 1, 2026, from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m.

Showtimes: This gallery talk occurs once on the scheduled date; no additional performances or showings are listed.

Tickets: Admission is free, but advance reservation is recommended. Reserve a spot through the museum’s event calendar.

Lineup: Timothy Makepeace, the exhibiting artist, leads the gallery talk.

Run time: Approximately one hour.

Ages: Not specified; the talk is likely appropriate for general adult and teen audiences, but no age restrictions are noted.

Venue: American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center, Washington, DC.

Related Exhibition: Ghost in the Machine: Works by Timothy Makepeace, on view during the museum’s Summer 2026 season. The exhibition closes on Sunday, August 9, 2026, at 4:00 p.m.

Note: All events are subject to change or cancellation. Contact Patricia Edwine-Poku (gallery talks) or Brittany Lester (museum events) with questions.