Almohammadi

An all-star cast of Big Thinkers-actors Rainn Wilson and Ethan Hawke; composer Anthony Brandt; neuroscientists David Eagleman, Wendy Suzuki, and Beau Lotto; and psychologist Scott Barry Kaufman-share how they define creativity and explain how our brains uniquely evolved for the phenomenon. According to Eagleman, during evolution there was an increase in space between our brain's input and output that allows information more time to percolate. We also grew a larger prefrontal cortex which "allows us to simulate what ifs, to separate ourselves from our location in space and time and think about possibilities." Scott Barry Kaufman details 3 brain networks involved in creative thinking, and Wendy Suzuki busts the famous left-brain, right-brain myth.

Polly Verity is a “paper sculptor” from Wales who has enchanted her followers with her remarkable ability to create intricate, three-dimensional works of art using mainly plain, white paper.

Both a tremendous athlete and a motivated student growing up in New Hampshire, it wasn’t until later in life that Jack discovered his passions in contemporary art and graduated at age 30 from Plymouth State University with a BA in Art focusing primarily on studio production. It was during his junior year there that he happened upon what would eventually become an entryway to his legacy, the studio of a glass artist that was close to his school where he was producing a phenomenally rare style of glass art work combining lead crystal and dichroic glass using a cold-glass process. The process itself which required several weeks to produce even one completed glass sculpture was incredibly intense and physically challenging, and the number of glass artisans working in this form of fine art could be counted on one hand. Working side by side with the artisan for over a year, Jack learned every component and facet of this incredibly challenging and rare art form and eventually was a strong enough sculptor to branch out on his own in 2004 and open Storm Works Studios.

Chuck Hoberman's eponymous sphere is one of the best-loved toys of the last quarter century. But it's only one example of his incredible work in transformable design. From adaptive nanotech to flexible building materials, Hoberman has created surprising and inventive designs at every scale.

John Edmark's sculptures are both mesmerizing and mathematical. Using meticulously crafted platforms, patterns, and layers, Edmark's art explores the seemingly magical properties that are present in spiral geometries. In his most recent body of work, Edmark creates a series of animating “blooms” that endlessly unfold and animate as they spin beneath a strobe light.

In the past, sailors on whaling ships would carve whale teeth into works of art in a process called scrimshaw. These pieces would be brought home to loved ones as mementos of the voyage. Design incubator Studio Swine is attempting to recycle found materials and turn this aged art form into a more sustainable practice. In this short film, travel to remote parts of the ocean, where “the closest people are in a space station,” and watch as the process of collecting ocean trash and transforming it into beautiful treasure unfolds.

Victor Shamas, PhD, offers a fresh vision of the creative process as well as two practical tools for inducing the peak experience of creative inspiration.

Have you ever wondered how iconic artists like Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci learned their craft during the Renaissance period? This video takes you on a journey into the heart of a Renaissance workshop to uncover the apprenticeship process that turned young aspiring artists into legendary masters.

Albert-László Barabási explains the secret behind famous artists' success.