Art and the Sequence of Healing
Artist: Rebecca Rutstein
Researcher: Sony Tuteja
Science Subject: Whole genome sequencing
Stitch
Acrylic and spray paint on canvas
60 x 60″
2026
Art and the Sequence of Healing explores how whole genome sequencing is transforming the way doctors diagnose disease and choose medications tailored to an individual.
Whole genome sequencing, or WGS, reads nearly all of a person’s DNA, the biological instructions written in combinations of four chemical letters: A, T, C, and G, in different combinations for a total of 3.2 billion making up our genome. By comparing an individual’s genome with a reference, scientists can identify genetic differences that may influence disease risk or how a person responds to certain medications. The process involves breaking DNA into smaller fragments, reading those pieces, and using powerful computers to reconstruct the sequence. Rebecca Rutstein’s painting draws inspiration from this complex process of fragmentation, pattern recognition, and reassembly.
The work reflects Dr. Sony Tuteja’s research and commitment to making genetic medicine more equitable. Earlier genetic tests often focused on a limited set of markers identified through studies that did not equally represent all populations. Whole genome sequencing offers a more comprehensive approach, creating opportunities for people from a wider range of backgrounds to benefit from advances in precision medicine.
Sony and Rebecca’s collaboration builds on a relationship that spans many years, bringing together scientific expertise and an established understanding of Rebecca’s artistic practice. They met several times to explore Sony’s pharmacogenomics research in greater depth, including a visit to Penn’s Genetic Diagnostic Laboratory, where Sony collaborates with laboratory director Dr. Arupa Ganguly.
Through ongoing conversations and brainstorming, the pair explored how the complex process of whole genome sequencing could be translated into a compelling visual form. Sony also visited Rebecca’s studio to engage more closely with her work and creative process.
Their collaboration reflects a shared effort to move between laboratory and studio, using scientific insight and artistic interpretation to make the invisible processes of genomics more tangible and accessible.
Artist: Rebecca Rutstein
Rebecca Rutstein is a multidisciplinary artist whose practice bridges art and science. For over twenty years she has created painting, sculpture, interactive installation and public art inspired by the natural world. Rutstein is passionate about creating visual and immersive experiences that shed light on hidden networks in nature to foster deeper connection and environmental stewardship.
As an artist in residence she has collaborated with scientists around the world including ten expeditions at sea, supported by the National Science Foundation. A Pew Fellowship in the Arts recipient with recognition from the National Endowment for the Arts, Rutstein's works can be found in over fifty public collections including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, National Academy of Sciences, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Museum, the Georgia Museum of Art and the U.S. Department of State.
Dr. Sony Tuteja
Dr. Tuteja is the Director of Pharmacogenomics in the Penn Medicine Center for Genomic Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. She is a clinical pharmacist with expertise in genomic, translational, and implementation research.
Her work focuses on implementing pharmacogenomics into clinical care to improve medication safety and discovering novel pharmacogenomic markers of drug response using electronic health record data (EHR) coupled with large DNA repositories. She established the first pharmacist-run pharmacogenomics clinic within Penn Medicine, where patients can receive pharmacogenomics testing.