Houston Pulmonologist Showcases Stunning Nature Photography in New Exhibit

Dr. Jayasimha 'Jay' Murthy's 'World: Photographs' explores the connection between medicine, art, and the natural world.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 5:52pm

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A grid of brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen images of a medical object, such as a stethoscope or microscope slide, repeated in a stylized, abstract pattern evoking the work of Andy Warhol.A vibrant pop art celebration of the intersection between medicine and artistic expression.Houston Today

Dr. Jayasimha 'Jay' Murthy, a Houston pulmonologist, has opened a new photography exhibition titled 'World: Photographs' at the Houston Museum of African American Culture. The exhibit features about a dozen of Murthy's stunning landscape and nature photographs from around the world. Murthy, who also practices as an artist, says he returned to photography as a faster medium than painting to capture the compositions and scenes that captivate him, often rising early to photograph sunrises. The exhibit showcases Murthy's eye for bold, vibrant imagery, including a mesmerizing shot of the famous Fofoti tree on the shores of Eagle Beach in Aruba.

Why it matters

Murthy's art practice is part of a growing trend of doctors incorporating the humanities, including visual arts, into their medical work. Studies have shown that exposure to the arts can make doctors better listeners, more self-aware, and better able to connect with their patients on a human level. Murthy believes that while medicine may be 'concrete and lifeless and dull and clinical,' the 'warmth of humanity' is essential to truly understanding and treating patients.

The details

The 'World: Photographs' exhibit features about a dozen of Murthy's landscape and nature photographs, many of which capture stunning sunrises and sunsets. Murthy, who returned to art in 1998 after becoming a respected pulmonologist, says he was drawn to digital photography as a faster medium than painting to capture the compositions that captivate him. The exhibit's centerpiece is a mesmerizing shot of the famous Fofoti tree on the shores of Eagle Beach in Aruba, with its twisted, colorful trunk set against the blue waters and white sands of the Caribbean.

  • The 'World: Photographs' exhibit is on display at the Houston Museum of African American Culture through June 6, 2026.
  • Murthy returned to art in 1998 after becoming a board-certified pulmonologist.

The players

Dr. Jayasimha 'Jay' Murthy

A Houston pulmonologist who specializes in treating asthma, COPD, sleep apnea, and interstitial lung disease. Murthy is also an avid photographer and artist, and his latest exhibition 'World: Photographs' is on display at the Houston Museum of African American Culture.

Houston Museum of African American Culture

The museum hosting Murthy's 'World: Photographs' exhibit, which features about a dozen of his stunning landscape and nature photographs.

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What they’re saying

“'I came into digital photography because it's faster for me to understand the composition, to shoot, and to process rather than a long painting.'”

— Dr. Jayasimha 'Jay' Murthy, Pulmonologist and Photographer

“'Medicine, at the end of the day, you're dealing with human beings. Even though you may have the science and the evidence and everything so kind of concrete and kind of lifeless and dull and clinical, you still need the warmth of humanity to convey those feelings and connect. Only when you connect, do you understand the other person's problem, and only then you can offer them a solution that they're willing to accept. Because nobody wants to accept anything from a stranger.'”

— Dr. Jayasimha 'Jay' Murthy, Pulmonologist and Photographer

What’s next

The 'World: Photographs' exhibit will remain on display at the Houston Museum of African American Culture through June 6, 2026, giving local residents and visitors the opportunity to view Murthy's stunning nature photography.

The takeaway

Dr. Murthy's art practice, which includes both photography and painting, reflects a growing trend in the medical field of incorporating the humanities to make doctors more self-aware, attentive, and better able to connect with their patients on a human level. His 'World: Photographs' exhibit showcases his talent as a photographer while also highlighting the important role that art can play in the practice of medicine.