ROBERT FATHAUER’S ART EXHIBIT
The exhibition was open from December 6, 2011 to March 7, 2012.
The exhibition was opened by:
Dr. György Darvas, physicist, philosopher, researcher of Symmetry Studies, Director of Symmetrion
Dr. Kálmán Liptai, mathematician, Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences at Eger College, Director of the Ars GEometrica Gallery
The art exhibit provided a survey of the artwork of Robert Fathauer from 1993 to 2011. His work is inspired by mathematics. The earliest works in the exhibit were Escher-like tessellations hand printed using silk-screen techniques. Some of his tessellation artworks were fractal in character and were created with the aid of a computer. There were other fractals in the exhibit as well, from a fractal self portrait to complex knots created using fractal techniques to fractal trees created using photographic building blocks.
Robert Fathauer: Math & Art Synergies In Action – Puzzles and Art Based on Tessellations and Fractals
“There are many examples of tessellations in manmade objects and in nature. The Dutch artist M.C. Escher created tessellations in which the individual tiles are recognizable motifs such as lizards and birds. Designs of this sort can be used in artworks and also as a basis for puzzles. The non-repeating Penrose tiles are particularly interesting and allow an endless number of different patterns. Fractals are another type of mathematical structure that is found in nature. Tessellations and fractals can be combined to create unique and beautiful designs. Fractal concepts can also be applied to create intricate knots possessing self similarity. They can also be used to create a wide variety of trees, where the mathematical rules employed determine the shape of the tree.” 
Robert Fathauer received the Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Denver in 1982 with a double major in Physics and Mathematics. In 1987, he received a Ph.D. from Cornell University in Electrical Engineering. From 1987 to 1994 he worked as a research scientist at the NASA/Caltech Jet Propulsion Laboratory. His interest in the work of M.C. Escher led him to design his own Escher-like tessellations and create art prints from them starting in the early 1990’s. In 1993 he started a business called Tessellations that specializes in puzzles and other products that combine mathematics and art. Over time, his artistic interests have expanded to include fractals and knots. He has written articles on Escher-like tessellations, fractal tessellations, and fractal knots, and his books include Designing and Drawing Tessellations and Fractal Trees. He is the leading curator of the Bridges Conference’s Exhibitions.