I received a painting from Sepideh as a gift, and it was deeply moving for me. It wasn’t just special because it was a piece of art from a friend—it also carried a powerful story. It beautifully captured my love for my cat while marking a brave moment for the artist, who confronted her own phobia of cats through the process. The result is intimate, meaningful, and something I will always treasure.

As both a lifelong art enthusiast and someone with a deep appreciation for science, I was immediately captivated by Sepideh Foroutan’s “Oxytocin: the Love Hormone”. This stunning acrylic painting now hangs proudly in my home, and every time I walk past it, I’m reminded of the powerful beauty that lies at the intersection of biology and creativity.

Measuring 122cm x 41cm, the piece elegantly captures the crystalline structure of oxytocin—our so-called “love hormone”—with a vibrancy and energy that reflect both its scientific significance and emotional resonance. Sepideh’s use of colour and texture transforms what might be seen under a microscope into something deeply human and relatable. The painting pulses with life, almost as if the hormone itself is emanating from the canvas.

Oxytocin is more than just a chemical—it’s a powerful agent of connection. It helps usher new life into the world during childbirth, strengthens bonds during breastfeeding, and surges when we fall in love, listen to music, hug someone dear, or even just laugh with a friend. Knowing that this painting was inspired by an actual microscopic image from Alfred Pasieka, and yet reimagined through Sepideh’s artistic lens, adds another layer of awe to the piece.

Sepideh Foroutan has a rare gift: she brings scientific concepts to life with soul and sensitivity. Her work speaks not only to the mind but to the heart, and “Oxytocin” is a perfect example of that synthesis. It reminds me daily that science and emotion are not opposites—they are deeply entwined. I feel honoured to own this piece and to support an artist whose vision bridges the worlds of knowledge and feeling so beautifully.

Sepideh paints with her hands, her sharp mind, and her beautiful soul. Her art flows directly from her heart and finds its way into yours.

She is a humble, ever-growing, ever-learning artist who inspires me both intellectually and spiritually. The way she poetically weaves together her knowledge of biology and computer science with her vividly personal artistic exploration of beauty, life, and the universe moves me deeply.

Looking at her work fills me with joy, makes me think deeply, and allows me to experience the dynamic peacefulness within her art. Knowing Sep — her wonderful personality and her creativity — makes me want to speak about her beautiful world for hours.

Thank you, Sep, for what you do, for authentically being yourself, and for sharing that truth through your art with us.

My absolute favourite piece at home is by my lovely Sepideh. It’s not just because she’s my best friend — her art really does stand on its own. She has this incredible way of blending her science background with her creativity, turning complex ideas into something you can actually feel and connect to.

The piece I have is based on how Oxytocin, the “love hormone,” looks under a microscope — an explosion of colour that feels alive, full of emotion and great energy.

What I love most about her work is how she makes you see science differently — not as something dry or complicated, but as something vibrant, human, and inspiring. Every piece she creates is like a little bridge between knowledge and feeling. My brave artist even takes on subjects like cancer, as if her eyes can find colour and meaning in everything, even in things we usually think of as dark or frightening. That’s what makes her art so unique: she reveals the hidden beauty in places most of us would never think to look.

My name is Prof Nicholas Huntington, and I am the co-founder and CSO of AUDAX Pty Ltd. I am driven by a profound commitment to improving the lives of people affected by cancer. With a deep-rooted fascination for the immune system, my work explores how the body’s natural defences — particularly natural killer (NK) cells and cytokine networks — can be harnessed to fight cancer more effectively. What fuels my research is not only scientific curiosity but a strong desire to translate discovery into tangible impact, bringing new immune-based therapies from the lab to the clinic. AUDAX, formerly oNKo-Innate had several programs dedicated to NK cells, an immune cell that can spontaneously recognize and destroy cancer cells. We commissioned some artwork from Sepideh for our office to highlight the breathtaking evolution that led to what we refer to as NK cells. Speideh’s painting encapsulates the natural beauty that millions of years of our immune system fighting off pathogens and malignant cells and evolving to create such a fascinating and sophisticated immune defence mechanism that protects us all. Personally, cancer research is part intellectual challenge, part creativity & art and part a deeply personal mission — shaped by the urgency to reduce human suffering and the belief that smarter, more precise therapies can transform outcomes for patients worldwide.

“Activation” is a beautiful combination of science and art. As a cancer and Immunotherapy researcher I couldn’t think of a more perfect piece to be hanging in a prominent place in my home. I gaze up and admire it not only for its artistic beauty and colour but it’s clever nod to science and its hidden meaning. Lovely artwork even lovelier artist. Thank you Sep for all your hard work, your passion and your talent.