Virtual Lecture: Mathematics and the Art of M.C. Escher

In celebration of the complex works created by M.C. Escher, the CMA welcomes mathematician and Escher scholar Dr. Doris Schattschneider for a virtual presentation followed by a Q&A.

Imagery in M.C. Escher's graphic works not only makes obvious use of geometry, but often provides visual metaphors for abstract mathematical concepts. This illustrated lecture examines those mathematical concepts implicit in several of Escher's works, outlines the transformation geometry that governs his interlocking figures, and reveals how this "math anxious" artist actually did pioneering mathematical research in order to accomplish his artistic goals. Free on Vimeo. This program will only be available for live online viewing.

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Schattschneider holds a doctorate in mathematics from Yale University and has 37 years of experience teaching mathematics at university level, mostly at Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Her fields of interest are discrete geometry, tiling, and mathematics and art, especially that of Escher. She has lectured at over 100 campuses and conferences and written over 60 publications, including books with M.C. Escher, Visions of Symmetry, and M.C. Escher Kaleidocycles being the most well-known.