Art in the Math Library

The Oberlin Mathematics Department has continued its ongoing efforts to enhance the mathematics library with the installation of six mathematical artworks. Supported by the Spencer Backman ’07 Fund, the works by Professor Kevin Woods (pictured), Professor Bob Bosch, and Izzy Pfaff ’25 (pictured) showcase the many ways in which mathematics can inspire artistic expression.

The collection includes two works by each artist. Bosch’s works, What’s Inside? and This Is!, connect ideas from optimization and topology through a visual exploration of the Traveling Salesperson Problem and the Jordan Curve Theorem. Woods’s works visualize space-filling curves and color spaces, revealing intricate relationships among geometry, recursion, and computation. Pfaff’s pieces, created in collaboration with Professor Benjamin Linowitz, depict wallpaper groups and showcase the rich symmetries that arise in repeating geometric patterns. 

Together, these works invite students and visitors to explore ideas from topology, geometry, optimization, symmetry, and computation. The department is grateful to Spencer Backman ’07 for his continued support of the mathematics library and for helping create a space that celebrates the creativity and beauty of mathematics.