Artist, author and designer Josie Iselin shares the creative journey behind her work exploring seaweed and kelp forests. Drawing from art, science, history and close observation of the natural world, she will discuss how her fascination with marine algae developed into books and projects that reveal the beauty, complexity and ecological importance of these underwater ecosystems.
Josie Iselin is a photographer, author and designer whose recent work explores seaweed, kelp and coastal ecosystems. Her newest book, The Mysterious World of the Bull Kelp Forest (Heyday Books, 2026), features illustrations by Ellen Litwiller and builds on her earlier books, The Curious World of Seaweed and An Ocean Garden: The Secret Life of Seaweed. Her work brings together art, design, science and environmental history.
Iselin is co-director of Above/Below, a campaign that raises awareness of underwater kelp forests. She serves as the primary writer and content creator for its educational web-based books, including The Mysterious World of Bull Kelp and The Alluring World of Olympia Oysters. She has also created exhibitions and installations that bring seaweed imagery and marine science into gallery spaces.
Iselin holds a BA in Visual and Environmental Studies from Harvard University and an MFA from San Francisco State University, where she taught in the School of Design. She uses a flatbed scanner and digital tools to create imagery inspired by the ecology of the California coast.
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Environment & Nature
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Art, Architecture & Photography
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Science
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