Tucked in the staircase between VISTA's lower and entry levels, two striking murals catch the eye. At first glance, they appear to be traditional mosaics of Marie Curie and Albert Einstein. But look closer, and you’ll see that each detail — every shade and contour — is crafted from 4,800 meticulously arranged mini Rubik’s Cubes.

The project began as an idea from James Lake ’27, inspired by the Rubik’s Cube’s role in pop art as a medium for creative expression and the desire to have student artwork on display in VISTA. He and Science Department Head Josh Lake used software from Ruwix.com, a popular Rubik’s Cube website, to explore various designs — including DNA structures and a galaxy — before selecting Curie and Einstein. “The six-color limitation of the Rubik’s Cube narrowed our options,” Josh Lake explained. “We found that portraits were the most recognizable and achievable.”

Ruwix generated two 211-page instruction guides, mapping out every twist and turn required to form the images. Over Winter Break, a team of seven puzzle enthusiasts — including students, faculty, and alumni — dedicated themselves to the challenge. "It was also great to have both current students and alumni contribute," said James, who enjoys learning different algorithms to solve the Rubik's Cube puzzle and sharing tips with others. 

Each cube had to be aligned with absolute precision, as a single misplaced color could throw off the entire design. Rather than solving each cube traditionally — aligning a single color on every face — the team used the guides to manipulate the cubes, focusing on achieving the exact patterns needed for the final images. Although they’d initially estimated it would take a month to complete both murals, they were thrilled to finish in half that time.

“Before working on this mural, I had no experience with Rubik’s Cubes, but I caught on quickly,” said Rowan Lehmann ’27. “I enjoyed the entire experience and found it relaxing and mentally stimulating.”

Now, as students and faculty pass through VISTA each day, these murals serve as a quiet tribute to persistence, ingenuity, and the joy of problem-solving. Though Curie and Einstein’s portraits will eventually be replaced, their legacy of discovery will remain. With plans to refresh the murals a few times a year, new faces — and new challenges — await.
 

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