Exquisite Creatures Revealed: OMSI’s Latest Stunning Exhibit
Among the many wonderful spaces in Portland, OMSI (Oregon Museum of Science and Industry) is a go-to for weekend activities for all ages. And the latest exhibit on display, available through February 17th of 2025 is well worth the visit. Featuring a collection of expertly preserved organisms collected and displayed by artist Christopher Marley, this exhibit shows just how beautiful the biodiversity of our planet can be.
The exhibit starts with entering a dark room with a large screen at the front. Visitors settle in on spacious benches for a short video, explaining Christopher’s background, what drew him to collecting and preserving organisms, and the general details of his process and his inspiration. From there, the attendants draw back the large curtains and you enter into a vast room, walls covered with thousands if not hundreds of thousands of organisms. Each expertly preserved and arranged, bringing them to life through a unique artistic medium.
All of the organisms have been preserved as they existed in life, no artificial dyes or colors are used. The vibrant hues and otherworldly appendages are all real.
If you are the sort of visitor who likes to read through the plaques and view each piece, be sure to give yourself at least an hour and a half to two hours to fully enjoy and take in the exhibit. This exhibit spans across two floors, with the second accessible via either stairs or an elevator.
Photos can’t do the exhibit justice, so if you find yourself with a free afternoon, come take it in for yourself. Additional details can be found here.
My friends and I visited the first Sunday of January, taking advantage of OMSI’s first Sunday $5 ticket deal, so try and catch the next one on February 2nd! Your ticket to the exhibit (whether full price or $5) will also gain you access to the whole museum, so leave a little extra time to explore the rest of OMSI’s offerings.
