Montana State University senior Jack Schnepf has used his personal experiences and artistic skills to bridge the gap between art and science. Schnepf, a studio arts major in the College of Arts and Architecture, will graduate on December 12. His work has been featured in more than 25 shows in the United States and Italy since he started at MSU in 2022, including nine hosted by the university.
Schnepf’s journey with art began after being diagnosed with eosinophilic esophagitis in eighth grade, a serious autoimmune disease that left him hospitalized frequently. He turned to drawing as a way to cope with his illness, eventually finding that his artwork could help others as well.
His senior thesis display at MSU’s Helen E. Copeland Gallery explores how painful experiences can be transformed into visual stories. The six-piece series includes references to bullying and illness from his youth, using dark shadows and tally marks to represent these moments.
“Beyond words, you can feel those experiences through painting. That’s my favorite thing,” Schnepf said about his approach to art.
Schnepf also served as the first artist-in-residence at MSU’s Quantum Collaborative Research and Education facility (QCORE). There, he worked closely with physicists to create paintings that help visitors understand complex quantum concepts. One piece, “The Shape of Uncertainty,” uses imagery of running horses to illustrate how light behaves as both a wave and a particle. Visitors interact with the artwork by adding chalk dots—a feature that Schnepf says helps people engage directly with scientific ideas.
“I’ve never seen a CEO of a 300-person company more scared of adding one dot on a painting, thinking they’ll ruin it,” Schnepf said.
QCORE director Jayne Morrow noted that art makes their research environment more accessible: “Lab environments can often feel stark or uninviting,” Morrow said. “Jack’s presence sort of disarms people. It feels more approachable and accessible when they’re greeted with a piece of art and an artist, like they can understand quantum in their own way.”
During his time at MSU, Schnepf also participated in an overseas program in Italy where students painted murals and studied ancient artworks. Regina Gee, who coordinated the trip, described him as deeply engaged during museum visits: “I would always find him sitting somewhere drawing in the museum. He was just utterly absorbed,” she said.
After graduation, Schnepf plans to continue creating art for local clients in Bozeman—including projects for QCORE—and explore further opportunities both locally and on the East Coast.
“A goal of mine has been, ‘How can you have your foot in the door before you graduate?’” he said. “I’m excited to walk through the door now that I’ve opened it.”
