KNOXVILLE, TN (February 20, 2025) – The McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture proudly announces the opening of X-Ray Vision: Fish Inside Out, offering a stunning look at fish through cutting-edge science. Featuring striking X-ray images from the Smithsonian’s National Collection of Fishes, X-Ray Vision opened to the public on February 13 and will be on view through June 15, 2025.

The new exhibition showcases 32 black-and-white X-ray images of fish, arranged in evolutionary sequence to reveal the intricate anatomy and diversity of fish from around the world. Originally created for research purposes, the strikingly elegant X-ray images on view in the McClung Museum demonstrate the natural union of science and art.

These images come from the Smithsonian’s National Collection of Fishes, the largest and most diverse collection of its kind, representing over 70 percent of the world’s fish species. The X-rays have allowed the Smithsonian and other scientists to study the skeleton of a fish without altering the specimen, making it easier for scientists to build a comprehensive picture of fish diversity.

In addition to prints from the Smithsonian, the exhibition features specimens from the University of Tennessee collections—including the McClung Museum, the Etnier Ichthyological Collection, and the Vertebrate Osteology Collection—highlighting ongoing research on aquatic specimens happening on campus.

X-Ray Vision marks the second major exhibition debut at the McClung Museum in the past month, following the January opening of Homelands: Connecting to Mounds through Native Art. Together, these exhibitions are part of the museum’s most significant renovation in 20 years, offering visitors refreshed gallery spaces and an expanded look at science, history, and culture.

“We’re excited to bring this exhibition from the Smithsonian to Knoxville. X-Ray Vision is a great example of how the McClung Museum serves as a bridge between science, art, and education,” said Claudio Gómez, Jefferson Chapman Executive Director of the McClung Museum. “It’s an opportunity for visitors to engage with the beauty and complexity of the natural world while also supporting the important work of our local researchers.”

Alongside the physical exhibition, the McClung Museum will offer educational programming throughout the spring. Programs include the Darwin Day celebration on February 23, a lecture on Tennessee’s fishes and freshwater mussels on March 11, and offerings like Homeschool and Museum Sprouts for younger audiences.

X-Ray Vision: Fish Inside Out is organized by the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES). It was inspired by the book Ichthyo: The Architecture of Fish (Chronicle Books in association with the Smithsonian Institution, 2008) by Stephanie Comer and Deborah Klochko. The Smithsonian exhibition was curated by Lynne Parenti and Sandra Raredon. The local presentation of the exhibition was curated by McClung Museum exhibitions staff in collaboration with McClung Museum Curator of Malacology Gerry Dinkins and Director & Curator of the David A. Etnier Ichthyological Collection Dr. Ben Keck.

 

About the McClung Museum

The McClung Museum of Natural History and Culture is at 1327 Circle Park Drive. Museum admission is free, and visiting hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday–Saturday and 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays. Visitors should register at tiny.utk.edu/visitmcclung and review the visitor guidelines, parking information, and check-in process.

 

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Contact: Emily Reichard
McClung Museum Communications & Annual Giving Professional
ereichar@utk.edu | (865) 974-2144