How I Create Sculptures Inspired by Potential Life on Exoplanets

As humanity pushes the frontiers of space research, aided by groundbreaking projects like the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and space missions such as Europa Clipper, I find myself increasingly fascinated by the idea of discovering life beyond our solar system. Whether currently thriving or long extinct, extraterrestrial life forms remain one of the greatest mysteries in science. My work as an artist seeks to give form to this mystery through sculpture, using artistic speculation to imagine how life on distant exoplanets might look.

The Conditions for Life on Exoplanets

If life does exist elsewhere in the universe, exoplanets—planets orbiting stars beyond our solar system—are the most promising places to search. Unlike barren celestial bodies such as our Moon or Mars, exoplanets have the potential to offer conditions suitable for life. Scientists identify certain key criteria that make a planet habitable:

• Surface Temperature: A planet must have a temperature range that allows for the presence of liquid water, a crucial ingredient for life as we know it.

• Geodynamical Shielding: A strong planetary magnetic field can protect life from harmful cosmic radiation, increasing the likelihood of long-term survival.

• Water: Perhaps the most essential factor, liquid water is considered a universal necessity for biological processes.

Each of these scientific factors plays a role in my creative process. I don’t just imagine alien creatures—I consider the environments they might inhabit. Would life evolve in deep, lightless oceans beneath thick ice crusts, like those on Europa? Would it thrive in toxic atmospheres, developing biochemistry fundamentally different from that on Earth? These are the speculative ideas that shape my sculptures.

The Symbolism of Steel in My Art

All my sculptures are crafted from steel. This choice is not arbitrary; it carries a profound meaning connected to the very fabric of the universe. The elements that make up steel—primarily iron—are forged in the final moments of a dying star. When a massive star exhausts its nuclear fuel, it collapses under its own gravity, triggering a supernova explosion. It is during this cataclysmic event that iron and other heavy elements are created, then scattered across the cosmos to form new planets, asteroids, and even the materials we use on Earth.

To me, the death of a star marks the birth of metal. And from this cosmic metal, I create sculptures that depict life. This cycle—the destruction of stars leading to the creation of materials that, in turn, inspire artistic depictions of life—symbolizes a universal continuity. My work is not just about representing alien life; it is about capturing the cycle of existence itself, as played out on a cosmic scale.

The Artistic Process: Layered Steel and the CT Scan Concept

My sculptures take shape through an innovative technique: layering steel sheets to create three-dimensional, anatomical representations of hypothetical alien lifeforms. This approach is inspired by CT scans, a medical imaging technique used to reveal the inner structures of living organisms. CT scans allow us to see beneath the surface, offering a layered perspective on anatomy. In my work, I use this visual language to construct speculative creatures that could exist on exoplanets.

Each sculpture is built from multiple layers of cut steel, stacked to create a cross-sectional effect. This method gives the illusion of looking inside an alien organism, revealing its skeletal structure and internal complexity. Some sculptures resemble skulls, hinting at extinct extraterrestrial species, while others take on more abstract, fluid forms, suggesting ongoing evolution. The layering technique adds depth and dimensionality, creating an interplay between solid material and negative space, much like the way CT scans reveal hidden details within a body.

This layered approach allows me to balance abstraction with realism. While the creatures I depict are entirely speculative, they maintain an internal logic, as if they belong to a larger evolutionary system shaped by their respective planetary conditions. By using steel to mimic the anatomical transparency of CT scans, I blur the line between scientific visualization and artistic imagination.

Galactic Fossils: The Concept Behind My Sculptures

I refer to my sculptures as Galactic Fossils—a term that captures the essence of my work. Just as paleontologists study fossils to understand ancient life on Earth, my sculptures serve as fossil-like relics of hypothetical alien species. These artistic fossils are not remnants of real creatures, but of possible ones—life forms that could exist somewhere in the vast, uncharted corners of the universe.

By framing my sculptures as galactic fossils, I invite viewers to engage with them as artifacts from an imagined future of discovery. What if, centuries from now, explorers on a distant world uncover actual fossilized remains of extraterrestrial organisms? My sculptures act as a bridge between science fiction and scientific possibility, prompting reflection on what alien life might look like and how it could be preserved in the geological record of an exoplanet.

The Intersection of Art and Science

While my work is grounded in artistic expression, it is deeply informed by scientific principles. I closely follow discoveries in astrobiology, planetary science, and cosmology, integrating these insights into my creative process. The tension between speculative art and empirical science is what makes my sculptures compelling. They are not mere fantasy; they are rooted in the real, evolving body of knowledge about our universe.

By sculpting imagined life forms with scientifically meaningful materials and methods, I contribute to a broader dialogue about the search for life beyond Earth. What can art teach us about the possibilities of alien biology? How can sculpture evoke the wonder and curiosity that drive space exploration? These are the questions that animate my work and define my creative vision.

Conclusion: The Cosmos as a Canvas

The universe is vast, mysterious, and filled with untold possibilities. While we may not yet have definitive proof of extraterrestrial life, the search for it continues to inspire both science and art. My sculptures are a reflection of this ongoing quest—a fusion of cosmic history, material science, and speculative biology. By using steel, a material born from stellar explosions, and by adopting a layered, CT-scan-inspired design, I create representations of life that may one day be found beyond Earth.

Through my work, I hope to spark curiosity and invite viewers to imagine the kinds of creatures that could inhabit distant exoplanets. Art has the power to explore ideas that science has yet to confirm, allowing us to visualize the unseen and dream of the discoveries that await us in the stars. In this sense, my sculptures are not just artistic objects—they are invitations to explore, question, and wonder about the universe and our place within it.

Peter Von Hauerland

You can find my Space and Science inspired sculpture art objects around this website in these sections:

Galactic Fossils

Interactive Cosmos Sculptures

Art Decor Inspired by Space Objects made of sheet steel

Tiny Space Creatures