150 years of OCAD U
What can microscopic images reveal about the future of children’s health?
At The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids), researchers are working to better understand the biology underlying children’s health and disease, along the way capturing extraordinary images of the hidden worlds inside the human body.
Unseen Worlds: Revealing the Science of Healthier Futures brings that research beyond the lab and into a free public exhibition, placing scientific imagery in dialogue with artworks by OCAD University students and recent graduates.
On view from Nov. 16 to 27 at OCAD University in the Great Hall at 100 McCaul St., the exhibition draws on research by more than 50 scientists across six SickKids research programs.
Seven OCAD U student and recent graduate artists have created works that respond to the remarkable visualizations from the SickKids Research Institute, exploring themes including care, wellness and resilience. Visitors will encounter diverse scientific works including microscopic cellular structures and neural networks, alongside artworks exploring the experiences of caregiving and living with health conditions.
Unseen Worlds will include a special Family Day on Nov. 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The free, all-ages event will feature opportunities to meet the scientists and artists behind the exhibition and take part in hands-on activities designed specifically for children and families.
By bringing scientific observation together with artistic interpretation, the exhibition encourages visitors to look beyond what can be seen and measured to consider the relationships, experiences and discoveries that are shaping the future of Precision Child Health, a movement at SickKids to tailor care to what makes each child unique.
“As OCAD U celebrates 150 years of advancing art, design and culture, we reaffirm the vital role artists play in helping society see the world differently, ask new questions and make sense of complex challenges,” said OCAD U President and Vice-Chancellor Ana Serrano. “Our collaboration with SickKids demonstrates the value of bringing creative and scientific perspectives together to expand our understanding of health and well-being and imagine new possibilities for the future.”
“Both art and science invite us to look at the world differently, explore what we don’t yet understand and imagine what might be possible,” says SickKids Chief of Research Dr. Stephen Scherer. “At SickKids, we believe research should be accessible, engaging and connected to the communities it serves. This exhibition reflects that commitment by inviting families and the wider community to engage with research and imagine healthier futures for children and youth.”
The exhibition, guest curated by Golnoush Mir Salari, features work by seven OCAD U students and recent graduates:
The selection of the guest curator and the featured artists was facilitated by the RBC Centre for Emerging Artists & Designers’ Career Launcher program.
About OCAD University
The exhibition is part of OCAD U’s year-long celebration of its 150th anniversary. Since its founding in 1876 as the Ontario Art School, OCAD U has evolved into Canada’s largest and oldest university dedicated to art and design. Its faculty and alums have helped shape the country’s visual identity and culture, contributing to the design of familiar Canadian symbols and the visual identities of iconic brands.
As OCAD U looks toward its next 150 years, partnerships across sectors will remain important to connecting creative and scientific communities, fostering interdisciplinary exchange and exploring how art and design can deepen understanding and help address shared challenges.
About SickKids
SickKids has been changing the game for paediatric health care since it became the first children’s hospital in Canada in 1875. Affiliated with the University of Toronto, SickKids is one of Canada’s most research-intensive hospitals and has generated discoveries that have helped children globally.
Its mission is to provide the best in complex and specialized care; promote a culture centred around patient and family experience; pioneer scientific and clinical advancements; foster an academic environment that nurtures health-care professionals; and champion an accessible, comprehensive and sustainable child health system. In 2026, for the second year in a row, SickKids was named the world’s best children’s health-care centre by Newsweek and Statista.
On the heels of celebrating its 150 years of excellence in children’s health, SickKids continues to advance Precision Child Health, its groundbreaking movement to deliver individualized care, including responsibly using artificial intelligence to improve clinical care and research. SickKids is proud of its vision for Healthier Children. A Better World.
For more information, please visit www.sickkids.ca or SickKids’ Instagram, LinkedIn, X or YouTube.
