Jamey Stillings
Atacama
Houston Museum of Natural Science
“Atacama: Renewable energy & Mining in the high Deserts of Chile”
The Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS) announces the opening of ATACAMA, a significant exhibition by photographer Jamey Stillings, scheduled from February 21 to August 26, 2026, on Level 3. The exhibition fee includes access to the HMNS Permanent Exhibit Halls.
Part of Global Visions – FotoFest at 40 (March 7 – May 10, 2026), ATACAMA examines the evolving relationship between renewable energy development and extractive mining in Chile’s Atacama Desert—one of the driest regions on Earth, increasingly shaped by the demands of the contemporary energy industry.
Utilizing aerial perspectives captured from aircraft, Stillings documents the grandeur of solar energy installations, extensive copper and lithium mining operations, and the desert’s stark natural beauty—often visibly altered by human activity. The exhibition links remote landscapes to everyday life: the copper and lithium produced in this region are widely used in computers, automobiles, and smartphones, and Chile is a prominent global copper supplier and a major lithium producer.
ATACAMA encourages visitors to engage in timely discourse on the trade-offs inherent in the transition to cleaner energy sources—exploring how societies might balance rising energy demands with the pursuit of a responsible, carbon-constrained future. Stillings’ photographs underscore the capacity of photography to document, educate, and stimulate vital conversations concerning sustainability and the human-modified environment.
Blazing Editions Production Note:
Blazing Editions (East Greenwich, Rhode Island) proudly collaborated with Jamey Stillings in the production of exhibition prints. As per the artist’s December 2025 update, proofing and full-scale production have been completed at Blazing Editions. The works have been produced as dye-sublimation metal prints, framed in black, museum-quality wood.
About the Houston Museum of Natural Science:
Founded in 1909, the Houston Museum of Natural Science was established on the principles that science enriches everyday life. Currently, HMNS functions as an expansive, multi-story science center in Hermann Park, featuring five floors of permanent exhibits spanning astronomy, paleontology, geology, and Texas wildlife, along with rotating special exhibitions. HMNS operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
February 21st — August 26th, 2026
Houston Museum of Natural Science: Level 3
5555 Hermann Park Dr.
Houston, TX 77030
713-639-4629
About Jamey Stillings
Jamey Stillings is an accomplished American photographer celebrated for his dedicated long-term projects that center on in-depth research into the complex relationships between landscape, emerging technologies, and the profound impact of human activity on the environment. Since 2010, his primary focus has been on the development and transformation of renewable energy infrastructure and the shifting geography of power dynamics across the globe. He documents these changes through extensive aerial photography from helicopters and light aircraft, which are integral to his ongoing project, Changing Perspectives: Renewable Energy and the Shifting Human Landscape.
His aerial vantage point allows him to reveal intricate patterns and large-scale structures often hidden from ground level, transforming vast stretches of infrastructure into compelling compositions. These images evoke a sense of awe while inviting analytical reflection on the human footprint and technological progress.
Stillings has authored multiple publications, including The Evolution of Ivanpah Solar (Steidl, 2015) and ATACAMA: Renewable Energy and Mining in the High Desert of Chile (Steidl, 2023). His works have been showcased in numerous exhibitions around the world and are part of the permanent collections of prestigious institutions such as the U.S. Library of Congress, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and the Nevada Museum of Art.
