Jamey Stillings
Atacama
Houston Museum of Natural Science
Atacama
Renewable energy & Mining in the high Desert of Chile
The Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS) announces the opening of ATACAMA, a major exhibition by photographer Jamey Stillings, on Level 3, scheduled from February 21 to August 26, 2026. The exhibition fee includes access to the HMNS Permanent Exhibit Halls.
Part of Global Visions – FotoFest at 40 (March 7 – May 10, 2026), ATACAMA explores the changing relationship between renewable energy development and extractive mining in Chile’s Atacama Desert—one of the driest regions on Earth, increasingly affected by the demands of the modern energy industry.
Using aerial imagery from aircraft, Stillings captures the grandeur of solar energy installations, the scale of copper and lithium mining operations, and the desert’s stark natural beauty—often visibly altered by human activity. The exhibition connects remote landscapes to everyday life: the copper and lithium produced here are widely used in computers, cars, and smartphones, with Chile being a leading global copper supplier and a major lithium producer.
ATACAMA encourages visitors to engage in timely discussions about the trade-offs involved in shifting to cleaner energy sources—exploring how societies can balance rising energy needs with the goal of a responsible, low-carbon future. Stillings’ photographs highlight photography's ability to document, educate, and spark important conversations about sustainability and the human-altered environment.
February 21st — August 16th, 2026
Houston Museum of Natural Science: Level 3
5555 Hermann Park Dr.
Houston, TX 77030
713-639-4629
Blazing Editions Production:
Blazing Editions proudly collaborated with Jamey Stillings in producing exhibition prints. According to the artist’s December 2025 update, proofing and full-scale production are complete at Blazing Editions. The works have been created 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 belief that science enriches everyday life. Today, HMNS functions as a large, multi-story science center in Hermann Park, featuring five floors of permanent exhibits covering astronomy, paleontology, geology, and Texas wildlife, along with rotating special exhibitions. HMNS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
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.
