ABOUT OTOART

 

The OtoArt project is a celebration of natural beauty and artistic inspiration drawn from human anatomy. Anaplastologists usually take consciencous care to conceal their work against human skin so it will go unnoticed. OtoArt gives us an opportunity to highlight the human ear as an artistic object for the public to enjoy!

 

OtoArt is a fundraising project of the Walter Spohn Trust, where imaginative artists transform ear forms into Visual Expressions of Hearing. These works of art are then auctioned off to benefit education and research in anaplastology. The project is the brainchild of four anaplastologists who spent a weekend together museum hopping in London.  As they viewed classic masterpieces on display for the public, they discussed the fact that their prosthetic creations are successful only if no one notices them. But, what if they wanted to celebrate the beauty of an eye, a nose, or an ear and share it with the public? That’s when they thought of OtoArt! They decided that participation would be open to everyone with a passion for anatomy and art. 

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OTOART 2026

This is still the spirit of the OtoArt project!​ Otoart 2026 will be the 15-year anniversary of this fundraising initiative of the Walter Spohn Trust. The 2026 Otoart Exhibition and Auction will focus on incorporating 3D printing and digital design into the artistic process, in recognition of the growing implementation of digital workflows into clinical anaplastology practice. All artworks will be displayed at a gallery event at the IAA Annual Conference in Baltimore, Maryland, in July 2026, as well as featured in a printed 2026 OtoArt Catalog. We welcome participation from anyone who is interested in reimagining and transforming the shape of the human ear.

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 Participation Requirements 

• You are invited to create a unique artwork, starting with a provided digital 3D file of an ear (.STL). and transforming the ear into a one-of-a-kind physical sculpture. 

• The shape of the ear must still be discernible and prominent in the final work of art. 

• The final artwork must be a PHYSICAL 3D sculpture. 

• Dimension Parameters: minimum of 8 square inches, maximum of 15 square inches 

• The final sculpture may be 100% 3D-printed from your digitally transformed 3D ear file, OR you may 3D-print a shape using the provided 3D ear file and fabricate your final design with traditional art materials (i.e. it may be painted on, sculpted over with epoxy, collaged with other elements of ceramic, silicone, plastic, etc). 

 

 

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The progression above demonstrates an example of transforming a digital 3D file into a physical artwork: 

Digital 3D file of ear → model is digitally mirrored → sculpture is digitally designed → sculpture is 3d printed to become a physical sculpture and then painted. 

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3D Printing Resources 

If you do not have access to your own 3D printer, consider exploring local 3d-printing services in your area or at your institution. Here are some online 3D-printing services you may also consider: 

• There You Have It 3D    

• Shapeways  

• Craftcloud 

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Important Dates 

• NOVEMBER 15, 2025 – DEADLINE to SUMBIT APPLICATION (Submit by email to info@walterspohntrust.org)

• NOVEMBER 30, 2025 – WST will announce selected proposals 

• APRIL 1, 2026 – FINAL DESIGN must be complete; Final images, dimensions, title, description and materials must be submitted to the WST for inclusion in the 2026 OtoArt Catalog and promotional content. 

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Submit your application by email to info@walterspohntrust.org

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Questions? Please email us at info@walterspohntrust.org if you any questions (Subject: OtoArt 2026) 

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​Sign up here to stay tuned for more information on this exciting project!

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PAST OTOART EVENTS

 

The inaugural OtoArt exhibit and auction was held in Sarasota, Florida at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel as part of the combined meeting of the 25th Annual International Anaplastology Association Conference with the 3rd International Bone-Conduction Hearing-Craniofacial Osseointegration Symposium in March, 2011. Twenty-one ears were designed and embellished by artists from the US, Canada, and Europe and auctioned off to an international audience. They now reside in homes, offices, and clinics around the globe!

A new phase of the OtoArt fundraising effort began in 2013 at the International Anaplastology Association’s Annual Conference in Nashville, Tennessee.  Since 2013, each year an OtoArt ear is designed specifically for the annual IAA meeting by featured artists, celebrating the location and/or theme of the meeting. Each new ear is showcased at its respective meeting and auctioned to support the WST.  

 

OtoArt 2017 added a twist to its participation criteria, welcoming ear-centered compositions in all different forms and media: 3d, 2d, painting, drawing, sculpture, screen print, 3d-print, photograph, etc. (realistic or abstracted). This new aspect of the project allowed artists to submit exciting and diverse pieces. OtoArt 2017 was a great success! We were able to showcase work at the 2017 IAA Annual Conference in Minneapolis, as at a public exhibition at Squirrel Haus Arts in Minneapolis. OtoArt hosted an Online Auction allowing art collectors and supporters to bit on each piece, and all auction-raised funds went directly to the support of the Walter Spohn Trust!

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OtoArt Exhibitions and auctions were held in 2018 and 2019 as well; however, due to the Covid-19 pandemic and a reduction of in-person events, OtoArt events had been postponed.

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