Kristen Lese

Kristen Lese is a researcher, artist, and educator based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Through her company, Pendulum Discoveries, she creates layered, mixed-media art that explores the overlooked histories of women in science and medicine. Her current body of work centers on the Zürich 7—the first wave of women to earn medical degrees in the 19th century—using cut paper, stitching, and immersive tools like virtual reality and GIS mapping. Kristen’s interdisciplinary background spans science communication, historical research, and community outreach. She serves on the board of MapWorks Tulsa and mentors students in STEM, often combining traditional mapping with experimental storytelling. Her upcoming solo exhibition at TAC Gallery brings together art, education, and public history in an effort to spark conversation about the visibility of women in science—past, present, and future.

I use cut paper, thread, and technology to map the unseen. My work brings forgotten women—especially early pioneers in science and medicine—into the visible world through layered visual storytelling. I’m drawn to complexity: of data, of identity, of legacy. Stitching, weaving, and layering are not just techniques, but metaphors for the tangled, often invisible routes these women navigated. I incorporate historical research, GIS, and virtual reality to build immersive experiences that blur the boundary between physical and digital. My goal is to spark a sense of wonder and urgency—about who gets remembered, and how we shape collective memory through art. Rooted in Oklahoma and reaching across time, my art is an invitation to look deeper, to reimagine history, and to carry forward what was almost lost.

I create layered, mixed-media collage work that blends traditional and digital processes. My art often begins in Virtual Reality, where I sketch or sculpt forms in 3D space. These elements are then translated into the physical world through 3D printing or digital photography, and combined with hand-painted paper, canvas, and found materials. I cut, sew, weave, and reassemble these pieces—treating the surface like a living map or memory structure. I specialize in using unconventional materials and processes: paper is painted, then cut into strips, stitched or layered into sculptural forms; VR drawings become templates for tangible structures. My work explores the interplay between precision and improvisation, permanence and erasure, and often includes visual echoes of data visualization, textile craft, and cartography. Each piece reflects a deep interest in storytelling, fragmentation, and the reconstruction of lost or hidden histories—particularly those of women in science.

https://www.instagram.com/pendulumdisco/