2026 Joint Mathematics Meetings
Bronna Butler
Artists
Bronna Butler
Mathematical Artist
B. A. Baroque Arts, LLC
New Jersey, USA
Statement
My early interest in art and mathematics led to a BA in art, an MS in accounting, and careers in both finance and art. For the past decade, I have created glass/metal sculptures and two-dimensional imagery focused on recreational and environmental mathematics, mathematics outreach and physics. OctoPi is my alter-ego, graffiti artist octopus. She creates artwork focused on environmental mathematics and sustainability. Mathematics is a crucial tool for analyzing climate change and it plays significant roles in the fields of environmental science and sustainability.
Artworks
OctoPi Micro and Nano Plastics Pollution
37.5 x 37.5 x 2.5 cm
Print of drawing on charcoal paper
2025
OctoPi’s three triangles illustrate environmental concerns regarding plastic pollution. The ocean wave in the bottom triangle surrounds the standard wave equation, a partial differential equation (PDE) that describes the propagation of waves, like ocean waves. In the context of ocean dynamics, PDEs help scientists to understand how ocean waves affect the movement of marine debris, like plastics. OctoPi has a suggestion, in the rightmost triangle, for reducing the use of plastic cutlery. The leftmost triangle includes information from The National Academy of Science’s "Environmental Health Matters Initiative: Introduction to Microplastics and Health Implications" Webinar Series.