Life is everywhere we look, even when it seems invisible. From giant trees to the bacteria surrounding their roots, there are a vast variety of organisms on our planet ranging from large and imposing to so small that they can’t be seen with the naked eye. My work is inspired by the small things that make up each one of these creatures–cells. The unique patterns of cells in a leaf or the tissue of an organism inspire the textures and patterning in my sculptural work. With each piece, I want to create something that feels organic and natural–something with a movement that makes it feel almost alive. Whenever I plan a new piece, I sit down and fill my sketchbook pages with different shapes until I find something that feels this way. One of my favorite parts about my work is that while it is inspired by living cells, it isn’t inspired by any one specific organism, which makes the actual forms I use open to interpretation. I am always fascinated to hear about what things different viewers see in my work. 

 

Some of my favorite mediums are yarn and embroidery thread, which I use to crochet transparent forms with a cellular pattern. The unique pattern that comes from my loose crochet stitch is actually one of the things that inspired me to think about cells and what makes up life. To create forms with this material, I crochet pieces of fabric that I will later harden with glue over a newspaper cast. Recently, I’ve started to experiment with using new ways to create similar transparent patterns. In my two newest pieces, I have done this using 3D printing, designing my sculpture using 3D modeling and printing it to hold forms that I make with other materials like wood. As I continue with my work, I hope to make more connections between nature and the forms I create.