Libby Heaney

Libby Heaney is a quantum physicist who pioneered the use of quantum computing as a functioning artistic medium. Her groundbreaking work bridges the gap between cutting-edge physics and contemporary art, positioning her as the first to explore this intersection in practice. Her signature 360-degree immersive installation, Ent, presented at Light Art Space Berlin, demonstrates how quantum systems can generate novel aesthetic experiences that would be impossible through conventional means.

Heaney's work has received significant institutional recognition, including the Lumen Prize in 2022 and the Falling Walls Prize in 2022. Her practice has been documented in a Hatje Cantz monograph published in 2024. Solo exhibitions of her work have been presented at prestigious venues including Somerset House and HEK Basel, establishing her as a significant figure in contemporary art circles. Her background as a PhD quantum physicist provides the rigorous technical foundation necessary to realize her artistic vision.

As a speaker, Heaney offers audiences a rare perspective on the convergence of quantum physics and artistic practice. She articulates how quantum mechanics can expand the possibilities of artistic creation, and addresses the philosophical and technical questions that emerge when scientific instruments become creative tools. Her work challenges assumptions about what art can be and what quantum computing might become beyond its conventional applications in computation and data analysis.