Lucy McRae is a sci-fi artist, film director and body architect. In films, music videos and immersive installations, she places the human body in complex, futuristic scenarios, focusing primarily on taking audiences out of their comfort zone.
McRae is a TED Fellow and inventor of the Swallowable Perfume, a cosmetic pill that, when ingested, works from the inside out. Recognized as an early identifier of emerging technologies that drive product innovation, she led Philips Electronics far future research lab, developing stretchable electronics, an electronic tattoo and a range of emotional sensing dresses. She encourages scientific conversation regarding the future of health, beauty and science and has spoken at events including CNN’s Human Augmentation conference, the Royal Albert Hall, London’s College of Physicians, Tribeca Film Festival and recently at WIRED Health on “How art and chaos can help innovate business.” Her award winning science fiction artwork (which has been exhibited at London Science Museum, the Royal Academy of Arts, Centre Pompidou and Venice Biennale) has been developed in collaboration with leading Institutes including NASA, MIT and Ars Electronica. McRae has been listed by Fast Company as one of 50 designers shaping the future.
Trained in classical ballet and interior design, McRae’s interdisciplinary work centers around the body, combining storytelling with science to create speculative artworks. Projects include a microgravity trainer that prepares the body for a life in space; The Institute of Isolation, a documentary film exploring the body beyond Earth’s edge; and the Future Day Spa which uses the tools of science fiction to optimize human performance.
McRae has been a trusted consultant to Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Intel, Mini Cooper, Swarovski and Aesop. She facilitates workshops that explore the cultural impacts emerging technologies will have on future lifestyles and how these technologies will drive new business. Similarly she has led masterclasses and spoken at design, technology and architecture schools including Royal College of Art, Central St Martins, SCI_Arc, Hyper Island, Bartlett, RMIT, AA and MIT Media Lab.
Press
Fast Company, Gorgeous new film about body and morph in space
Wired Magazine, Upstarts
Wired Health, How art and chaos can innovate business
Ars Electronica, Isolation as a way to cure
52 Insights, Moving Beyond the body
Dezeen, How design can prepare us for space
The Future Laboratory’s LS:N Global, Optimising the brain and body via sensory deprivation
Creators Project, What happens when you merge the space and beauty market?
Wearable Panel Discussion on Friday, April 21, 2017 from 4:00-6:00pm