The earliest descriptions of the motions of living cells were marked by a sense of vitality. Indeed, these cellular motions have fascinated a diverse array of scientists and artists for centuries. The sustained interaction between artists and scientists in the author’s lab has led to an environment that fosters novel research directions and an appreciation of the intrinsic value of curiosity. Here, the author describes the anti-disciplinary research taking place in the lab and some of the discoveries that have revealed new paradigms governing the movement and behaviors of living cells in unnatural environments.