Periodic Table Art: How Science Becomes Sculpture in Contemporary Conceptual Art

  • Periodic Table Art: How Science Becomes Sculpture in Contemporary Conceptual Art

     

    Part of the Canvas & Bronze Collection, artist Daniel Allen Cohen reimagines the periodic table, transforming science into sculptural art that surprises and delights contemporary collectors.

  • Art and science: two realms that have shaped how we understand our world. They are more intertwined than ever in the studios of contemporary conceptual artists. Today, the periodic table, a universal symbol of scientific order and discovery, is finding vibrant new life as a creative canvas.

    This unique intersection of art and science is embodied in the works of Daniel Allen Cohen, whose “Science of Art” series transforms everyday passions like chocolate, wine, travel, and golf into witty, thought-provoking sculptures. What does it mean when chemistry’s most iconic chart is reimagined for modern collectors? And why does this genre, periodic table art, spark such fascination among art lovers, scientists, and anyone curious about how meaning is made?

  • Daniel Allen Cohen – A Visionary in Science Art

    Daniel Allen Cohen is a Los Angeles-based conceptual artist renowned for his ability to bridge pop culture, science, and humor. His “Science of Art” series, available at Canvas & Bronze, is a prime example of how contemporary art can reinterpret scientific symbols to invite fresh ways of seeing.

     

    Cohen’s approach is marked by meticulous precision, visual wit, and a dedication to physical detail. Each work in the series appropriates the structure and language of the periodic table, down to atomic numbers, weights, and elements, but swaps chemical matter for universally recognized symbols of pleasure and aspiration.

  • Chocolate periodic table artwork by Daniel Allen Cohen featuring bold text and chocolate elements on a white background.

    The Science of Art – Periodic Table Chocolate

    Cohen’s “Periodic Table Chocolate” reframes the chemical periodic table with chocolate as its core element. Set against a stark white background and encased in a black frame, the piece presents “Cc” as a new “element,” complete with an atomic number, weight, and real chocolate specimens mounted on the artwork’s surface. The playful “Chocolate Facts” section details pseudo-scientific “active ingredients” like “Love” and “Joy,” and lists whimsical side effects reflecting our cultural obsession with this beloved treat. The result is a work that draws viewers in through familiarity before revealing deeper commentary on how we categorize and value life’s pleasures.


    View The Science of Art – Periodic Table Chocolate (2022)

  • Daniel Allen Cohen, Travel artwork

    Daniel Allen Cohen

    The Science of Art - Periodic Table Travel, 2022

    The Science of Art – Periodic Table Travel

    In “Periodic Table Travel,” Cohen uses the same rigorous structure to elevate the experience of travel. Here, the “Tr” element is accompanied by an actual U.S. passport embedded in the artwork, highlighting travel as both a symbol and a substance of human experience. The composition maintains the logic and presentation of the periodic table, while inviting viewers to reflect on the personal and cultural significance of movement and discovery.


    See The Science of Art – Periodic Table Travel (2022)

  • Golf 2nd Edition Periodic Table of Addiction by Daniel Allen Cohen, contemporary mixed media artwork featuring golf-themed elements and typography.

    The Science of Art – Periodic Table Golf

    Golf, a game of precision and obsession, becomes “Gf” in Cohen’s universe. This piece incorporates a real Titleist golf ball and catalogs the “active ingredients” and side effects associated with golf culture, from “Fairway Focus” to “Turning business meetings into birdies.” Cohen’s clever use of scientific notation and visual language adds both depth and levity, inviting collectors and golf enthusiasts to see their passion reflected through the dual lens of science and art.

    Discover The Science of Art – Periodic Table Golf (2022)

  • Wine Vino Periodic Table of Addiction by Daniel Allen Cohen, featuring a creative representation of wine with periodic table elements and a Petrus wine label, framed in a minimalist black border.

    Daniel Allen Cohen

    The Science of Art - Periodic Table Wine, 2022

    The Science of Art – Periodic Table Wine

    Finally, “Periodic Table Wine” reinterprets the periodic table as a celebration of wine culture. A prestigious wine label, “Wi,” is the featured element, surrounded by tongue-in-cheek “Wine Facts” like “Relax 100mg” and “Loose Lips 124mg.” As with the rest of the series, the piece balances scientific rigor with playful conceptual depth, using the structure of chemistry to examine rituals, status, and joy in everyday life.


    Explore The Science of Art – Periodic Table Wine (2022)

  • Why Periodic Table Art Resonates With Modern Collectors

    Periodic table art has captured the imagination of today’s collectors because it brings science, humor, and personal experience into the realm of fine art. For many, these works serve as both a mirror and a magnifying glass, inviting us to consider how we categorize, assign value, and find meaning in the material world.


    Daniel Allen Cohen’s “Science of Art” series exemplifies this trend, using the familiar format of the periodic table to make profound and accessible statements about identity, pleasure, and contemporary culture. By embedding everyday objects like chocolate, passports, golf balls, or wine labels, Cohen transforms the clinical rigor of science into a warm, human commentary.


    Collectors are drawn to periodic table art not only for its visual appeal but also for its ability to spark conversation and reflection. These works offer a bridge between personal stories and universal symbols, making them ideal for both private collections and dynamic public spaces.


    Discover more science-inspired and conceptual works in the Lagniappe Collection.

  • All Cohen Works Available at Canvas & Bronze

    • Chocolate periodic table artwork by Daniel Allen Cohen featuring bold text and chocolate elements on a white background.
      Daniel Allen Cohen, The Science of Art - Periodic Table Chocolate, 2022
      $6,500.00
      Enquire
      Daniel Allen Cohen, The Science of Art - Periodic Table Chocolate, 2022
      6,500.00
    • Golf 2nd Edition Periodic Table of Addiction by Daniel Allen Cohen, contemporary mixed media artwork featuring golf-themed elements and typography.
      Daniel Allen Cohen, The Science of Art - Periodic Table Golf, 2022
      $6,500.00
      Enquire
      Daniel Allen Cohen, The Science of Art - Periodic Table Golf, 2022
      6,500.00
    • Daniel Allen Cohen, Travel artwork
      Daniel Allen Cohen, The Science of Art - Periodic Table Travel, 2022
      $6,500.00
      Enquire
      Daniel Allen Cohen, The Science of Art - Periodic Table Travel, 2022
      6,500.00
    • Wine Vino Periodic Table of Addiction by Daniel Allen Cohen, featuring a creative representation of wine with periodic table elements and a Petrus wine label, framed in a minimalist black border.
      Daniel Allen Cohen, The Science of Art - Periodic Table Wine, 2022
      $6,500.00
      Enquire
      Daniel Allen Cohen, The Science of Art - Periodic Table Wine, 2022
      6,500.00

  • The Future of Art Inspired by Science

    As contemporary artists continue to blur the boundaries between disciplines, science-inspired art will only grow in significance and reach. Periodic table art stands at the forefront of this movement, revealing how curiosity and creativity can transform even the most structured symbols into sites of play and discovery.


    Our commitment is to connect collectors with art that resonates deeply. Pieces that carry stories, provoke thought, and bring joy through both their visual impact and their underlying ideas.


    To explore more works like Daniel Allen Cohen’s “Science of Art” series, visit our full collection.

     

    Interested in learning more, viewing these artworks, or adding a science-inspired piece to your own collection? Contact us today for details or to arrange a private viewing.

     


    Copyright Notice: All artwork images and works remain the copyright of Daniel Allen Cohen.