Artist Uses 3D Printing to Explore Ocean Themes

Artist Kimberly Callas views 3D printing not just as a manufacturing tool, but as a medium for storytelling, particularly concerning the oceans and environmental issues. Her latest work, "Ocean Reach," which combines hand-painted elements with 3D-printed biofilament, has been selected for the New York Academy of Art's 2026 Summer Exhibition.

Callas, an artist and professor at Monmouth University, integrates traditional art techniques with modern technologies like 3D printing. Her piece "Ocean Reach" explores marine life and environmental challenges, utilizing PLA biofilament, a common material in desktop 3D printing. This application highlights the expanding use of additive manufacturing in creative fields beyond traditional engineering and manufacturing.

The artwork, measuring 8 x 6 x 2 inches, uses the visible layers of 3D printing to create textures reminiscent of natural forms like waves and currents. Callas intentionally chose PLA biofilament, derived from renewable resources, to create a thematic link between the material and the environmental messages in her art, despite PLA not being a perfect environmental solution. The piece also incorporates acrylic ink and graphite, blending organic and futuristic aesthetics.

"Ocean Reach" is part of Callas's ongoing exploration of the intersection between humans and nature. She has previously used 3D printing in sculptures for her solo exhibition "Ocean Bodies" at Monmouth University in 2025, as well as in her "Portrait of the Ecological Self" series and an exhibition in Budapest inspired by marine ecosystems.