Inspiration-
This artwork is inspired by American computer programmer and mathematician Dorothy Vaughan. Making significant contributions to the early U.S. space program, she was also the first Black American supervisor at NACA. A role she would continue to hold up to and beyond its merger with NASA, spending her entire career helping America stay ahead of the curve during the space race. Dorothy Vaughan became an expert FORTRAN programmer, and she also contributed to the Scout Launch Vehicle Program.

Vaughan demonstrated outstanding talent, dedication, determination and sacrifice in advancing both computing activities and racial and gender equality, her actions and inspiration paved the way for NASA’s diverse workforce. A brilliant, dedicated, trailblazing pioneer, she represents what is possible with guts, determination and an indomitable spirit.

Series-
Women Who Changed The World- This series is a story of NASA’s African-American female mathematicians who played a crucial role in America’s space program—and whose contributions have been unheralded, until now.

A powerful, revelatory history essential to our understanding of race, discrimination, and achievement in modern America. Interweaving the rich history of scientific achievement and technological innovation with the intimate stories of these courageous, intelligent and determined women whose work forever changed the world—and whose lives show how out of one of America’s most painful histories came one of its proudest moments.

Technique-
Paving Her Way Through The Cosmos (Ode To Dorothy Vaughan) was created by constructing a hand-cut collage using female photographic portraiture, a halo made from an illustration of mathematical apparatus and an astrolabe, photographs of the moon and overlays of FORTRAN computer punch cards.