Geek Chic: DNA as Art

You can now have your DNA sequenced and framed to hang on your living room or office wall as unique, one-of-a-kind modern art. Founded this year by Adrian Salamunovic, a marketing, design, and technology veteran, and Nazim Ahmed, who has a degree in Molecular Genetics and a background in biotech, DNA11 creates framed art from DNA fingerprints. The DNA is gathered using a cheek swab that you collect yourself and deposit in a tube that is sent to a lab. The images are printed as digital high-resolution giclee fine art pieces and signed by the artists. The cost of the prints range from $390 for an 18" by 24" print to $790 for a 36" by 54" print. The Ottowa-based company gained popularity this year with the commission of prints by Absolut Vodka for their fruit-flavored vodka advertising campaign, which portrayed DNA fingerprints from the fruits used for each flavor of vodka.