Cajal Embroidery Project

Celebrating neuroscientist and pathologist Santiago Ramón y Cajal and the centenary of the establishment the famous Instituto Cajal in Madrid, Spain.

Homage to Cajal

Cajal embroidery x4

The Cajal Embriodery Project pays homage to the fascinating history of the Cajal Institute and its founder, Santiago Ramón y Cajal (1852–1934). He is well known for his detailed, informative and accurate illustrations of brain cells, demonstrating both their individuality and interconnectedness.

Over 75 volunteers collaborated across six countries to create 81 intricate, exquisite hand-stitched panels of Cajal's images. Coincidentally, it was created during the COVID-19 lockdown of 2020 and many of the contributors found the process of creating their embroideries a great relief in what was a difficult and often isolating time. The completed panels were sewn together to create a single 'tapestry,' approximately 2m x 2m in size. 

Initially, the plan was to exhibit the work at the Federation of European Neuroscience Societies (FENS) Forum in July 2020. The FENS Forum is the largest annual meeting of neuroscientists in Europe.  It was scheduled to take place in Glasgow, hosting over 6000 delegates. Sadly, due to COVID-19, the Forum had to be swiftly moved online.  However, a video was made as part of its Open Theatre series (see below).

Serialisation in The Lancet Neurology

Following an initial article in The Lancet Neurology - The Cajal Embroidery Project: celebrating neuroscience -  the journal featured panels as cover images with further linked in context articles throughout 2021.

Mehta, A.R., Abbott, C.M., Chandran, S., & Haley, J. (2020) The Cajal Embroidery Project: celebrating neuroscience, The Lancet Neurology, 19(12), 979. 

DeFeliipe, J., De Carlos, J.A. & Mehta, A.R. (2021) A museum for Cajal's Legacy, The Lancet Neurology, 20(1), 25.

Ribchester, R.R. & Mehta, A.R. (2021) Neuromuscular junctions: mind meeting matter, The Lancet Neurology, 20(2), 93.

Mehta, A.R. (2021) Cajal's illustrations inspire reparative acts, The Lancet Neurology, 20(3), 174.

Hardingham, G., Petzold G.C. & Mehta. A.R. (2021) What astrocytes need to do, The Lancet Neurology, 20(4), 260.

Compston, A., Metha, A.R. & Metha, P.R. (2021) Willis and the cortical neuron, The Lancet Neurology, 20(5), 338.

James, O.G., Mehta, A.R., Behari M. & Chandran, S. (2021) Centenary of the oligodendrocyte, The Lancet Neurology, 20(6), 422.

Deisseroth, K., Haley, J.E. & Mehhta, A.R. (2021) Form and function in the brain, The Lancet Neurology, 20(7), 508.

Warming, H., Schuman, E.M. & Mehta, A.R. (2021) Journey down memory lane, The Lancet Neurology, 20(8), 602.

Zoghbi, Z.Y. & Mehta, A.R. (2021) Purkinje cells and their trees, The Lancet Neurology, 20(9), 706.

Atwell, D. & Mehta, A.R. (2021) Anatomy embroiders function in Purkinje cells, The Lancet Neurology, 20(10), 793.

Frith, P. & Mehta, A.R. (2021) The retina as a window into the brain,The Lancet Neurology, 20(11), 892.

Mehta, A.R., Chataway, J., Pal, S., Parmar, M.K.B., Chandran, S. (2021) Trials for neurodegenerative diseases: time to innovate, The Lancet Neurology, 20(12), 984.


embroidery: fully developed cerebellar Purkinje cell
Lisa Stoneman's panel of a fully developed cerebellar Purkinje cell [cover 20(10)]
Embroidery of Cajal's hippocampus
Hannah Warming's rendition of of the hippocampus [cover 20(8)]

Video summary of the Project

Where to view

The Cajal 'tapestry' has been on tour a number of times, including the following exhibitions:

  • The Dott Gallery, Royal Hospital for Children and Young People, Edinburgh, December 2021
  • Neuroscience Day, Edinburgh, April 2024
  • BNA2025 Festival of Neuroscience, Liverpool, April 2025
  • The Art and Legacy of Santiago Ramón y Cajal, Bristol, June 2025  

In 2026, it will go on permanent display in Edinburgh's Institute for Neuroscience and Cardiovascular Research, QMRI Building, Little France. 

 

COMING SOON: FULL GALLERY WITH IMAGES OF EACH PANEL

three people looking at an art display on a wall
Cajal Tapestry on display in the Nucleus, King's Buildings Campus (2024)

Cathy Abbott

Katie Askew

Janice Barr

Alison Beadnell

Karen Biggar

Nicky Brunger

Molly Bullick

Kim Burnett

Annie B. Campbell

Rajini Chandrasegaram

Laura Curtis-Moss

Carol Coleman

Anika Cawthorn

Louise Cox

Rebecca Devon

Catriona Duncan

Michelle Duxberry

Amelia Edmondson-Stalt

Claire Edwards

Liz Farmery

Lily Fitzgerald

Lindsey Forbes

Lorna Ginnell

Griselda Goldsbrough

Brit Graham

Jane Haley

Helen Heggie

Jessica Heywood

Eve Hindle

Akanksha Jain

Marianne King

Mikaela Laine

Sarah MacGeorge

Rebecca Madden

Ruth McQuinn

Marta Mesonero

Anna Mikelsone

Diane Milne

Brenda Murage

Jane Murry

Jyoti Nanda

Caroline Nettekoven

Alexia Nunez

Anika Oellrich

Sally-Ann Parker

Emma Perkins

Janet Philip

Jennifer Pound

Jane Redford

Liz Ribchester

Madhusmita Sahu

Vanesa Salazar Sanchez

Elaine Sandeman

Danny Schnitzler

Diane Sherman

Jayne Shipley

Carol Smith

Melanie Stefan

Lisa Stoneman

Noah Stypidou

Alison Todd

Wendy Todd

Lisl Tudor

Paul Umutia

Hannah Warming

Caroline Watson

Carol Wollaston

Emma Wilson

Deanna Wolf

Qiling Xu


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