Karl Cronin is an artist and independent scholar who explores how personal physical histories are stored and communicated. He is currently focusing on the creation of Series 1 of the Somatic Natural History Archive - the embodied histories of 10,000 US plants and animals.

Cronin took an extended break from performing between 2000-2004 to study cognitive development at Harvard’s Lab for Developmental Studies and the neural correlates of music training at Harvard Medical Schools’ Music Neuroimaging Lab. Karl Cronin’s publications from his work during this period have appeared in Brain and Cognition, The Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, and Neuroreport.

Cronin returned to performing and creating choreography in 2004, and has since presented several works that blend together art practice and scientific process. This work has been performed at the Boston Institute of Contemporary Art (MA), Movement Research @ Judson Church (NYC), Moving People Company (NM), and in site-specific performances in over 14 states.

Awards include an Emerging Artist grant from Green Street Studios in 2006, a 2007 Choreography Fellowship from the Somerville Arts Council, a creative residency at the Interdisciplinary Laboratory for Art, Nature and Dance (iLAB 2008, NYC), a two-year Movement Research Artist Residency (NYC), and a creative residency at the Santa Fe Art Institute. He is also a member of the 2009-2010 Partnerships Academy (in partnership with the NYC Parks Department’s community affiliate Partnerships for Parks) and the Lab for Independent Scholars (Culture Push, NYC).