{"id":1794884,"date":"2026-02-26T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1794884"},"modified":"2026-02-26T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T21:00:00","slug":"whimsical-beaded-sculptures-by-amy-gross-meditate-on-our-planets-tiniest-life-forms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1794884","title":{"rendered":"Whimsical Beaded Sculptures by Amy Gross Meditate on Our Planet\u2019s Tiniest Life Forms"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content prose-colossal max-w-none\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-style-default entry-header is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"colo-post-featured-image wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1815\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/gross-11.jpeg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"An intricate, all-red wall sculpture by Amy Gross of imaginative flora made from paper and beads\" style=\"object-fit:cover\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cRubra.\u201d All images courtesy of the artist, shared with permission<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group post-title is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0bc941e6 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h1 class=\"alignfull wp-block-post-title\">Whimsical Beaded Sculptures by Amy Gross Meditate on Our Planet\u2019s Tiniest Life Forms<\/h1>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-meta is-layout-flex wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-02-26T10:00:25-06:00\">February 26, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<div class=\"taxonomy-category wp-block-post-terms\"><a class=\"category-art\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/art\/\" rel=\"tag\">Art<\/a><a class=\"category-craft\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/craft\/\" rel=\"tag\">Craft<\/a><a class=\"category-nature\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/nature\/\" rel=\"tag\">Nature<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/author\/kmothes\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"wp-block-post-author-name__link\">Kate Mothes<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-share-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-6c531013 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing has-visible-labels has-icon-color is-style-logos-only is-layout-flex wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-is-layout-flex\">\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-facebook has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2026%2F02%2Famy-gross-beaded-flora-mushrooms-sculptures%2F&amp;title=Whimsical%20Beaded%20Sculptures%20by%20Amy%20Gross%20Meditate%20on%20Our%20Planet%27s%20Tiniest%20Life%20Forms\" aria-label=\"Share\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tShare\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-pinterest has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2026%2F02%2Famy-gross-beaded-flora-mushrooms-sculptures%2F&amp;description=Whimsical%20Beaded%20Sculptures%20by%20Amy%20Gross%20Meditate%20on%20Our%20Planet%27s%20Tiniest%20Life%20Forms&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F02%2Fgross-11-960x1162.jpeg\" aria-label=\"Pin\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-15nLbPRZ\" data-rl_title data-rl_caption title><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tPin\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"color: #1c1e0d\" class=\"outermost-social-sharing-link outermost-social-sharing-link-mail has-crow-color wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link\">\n\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#1a25696f78707f796e274d7273776973797b763f282a587f7b7e7f7e3f282a49796f766a6e6f687f693f282a78633f282a5b77633f282a5d687569693f282a577f7e736e7b6e7f3f282a75743f282a556f683f282a4a767b747f6e3f282d693f282a4e7374737f696e3f282a56737c7f3f282a5c756877693c7b776a2178757e63274d7273776973797b763f282a587f7b7e7f7e3f282a49796f766a6e6f687f693f282a78633f282a5b77633f282a5d687569693f282a577f7e736e7b6e7f3f282a75743f282a556f683f282a4a767b747f6e3f282d693f282a4e7374737f696e3f282a56737c7f3f282a5c756877693f282a3f5f283f222a3f232e3f282a726e6e6a693f295b3f285c3f285c6d6d6d346e72736973697975767569697b76347975773f285c282a282c3f285c2a283f285c7b7763377d6875696937787f7b7e7f7e377c7675687b37776f697268757577693769796f766a6e6f687f693f285c\" aria-label=\"Email\" class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-anchor\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"wp-block-outermost-social-sharing-link-label \"><br \/>\n\t\t\tEmail\t\t<\/span><br \/>\n\t<\/a>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><button class=\"simplefavorite-button preset\" data-postid=\"470289\" data-siteid=\"1\" data-groupid=\"1\" data-favoritecount=\"0\"><i class=\"sf-icon-bookmark\"><\/i>Bookmark<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>After more than two decades as a commercial textile designer, often working digitally, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amygross.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Amy Gross<\/a> was drawn to making something that felt more immediate and tactile. \u201cI started making beaded jewelry, something I could hold and feel,\u201d she tells Colossal.<\/p>\n<p>The beading techniques gradually merged with canvases, which over time became more three-dimensional. They were \u201cless about adornment and more about personal stories I felt I needed to tell,\u201d she says. These eventually became <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/tags\/amy-gross\">sculptural objects<\/a>, representative of the natural world that has long been a source of wonder and curiosity for the artist.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/gross-3.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-470289\" title=\"\u201cAggregating Vivarium\u201d\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cAggregating Vivarium\u201d\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cAggregating Vivarium\u201d\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1600\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/gross-3.jpeg\" alt=\"An intricate sculpture inside of a glass dome vitrine by Amy Gross of imaginative flora made from paper and beads\" class=\"wp-image-470295\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cAggregating Vivarium\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Gross\u2019 imaginative compositions of flora, fungi, and sometimes even fauna tap into her fascination with scale. In her practice, it\u2019s \u201cnot about size, it\u2019s about what is most important to you,\u201d she says. \u201cIt\u2019s how we see and think and remember.\u201d Beads, thread, yarn, and paper transform into otherworldly, miniature biomes. <\/p>\n<p>The artist focuses on mushrooms, roots, leaves, blossoms, and tiny critters as a meditation on our planet\u2019s smallest denizens. She also incorporates motifs evocative of elements we typically can\u2019t comprehend with the naked eye, such as spores, pollen, viruses, molecules, and cells. \u201cTo my mind\u2019s eye, they are of equal importance,\u201d she says. \u201cThe health of the world we see is deeply dependent on the health of the tiniest elements.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Gross\u2019 work is currently on view in two shows at <a href=\"https:\/\/momentumgallery.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Momentum Gallery<\/a> in Asheville, which also represents the artist. In late 2027, her work will be included in a group exhibition at the <a href=\"https:\/\/fullercraft.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Fuller Craft Museum<\/a> in Brockton, Massachusetts, and one of her sculptures will be featured in a forthcoming book published by Phaidon about fungi. See more of the artist\u2019s work on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/amyla174\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/gross-7.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-470289\" title=\"\u201cEvada Dolor\u201d\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cEvada Dolor\u201d\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cEvada Dolor\u201d\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/gross-7.jpeg\" alt=\"An intricate wall sculpture by Amy Gross of moss and pink flora made from paper and beads\" class=\"wp-image-470299\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cEvada Dolor\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/gross-9.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-470289\" title=\"\u201cTaraxa Contineo\u201d\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cTaraxa Contineo\u201d\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cTaraxa Contineo\u201d\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1350\" height=\"1798\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/gross-9.jpeg\" alt=\"An intricate sculpture inside of a glass dome vitrine by Amy Gross of imaginative flora made from paper and beads\" class=\"wp-image-470290\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cTaraxa Contineo\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/gross-2.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-470289\" title=\"\u201cMycorrhiza Web\u201d\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cMycorrhiza Web\u201d\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cMycorrhiza Web\u201d\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1658\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/gross-2.jpeg\" alt=\"A series of intricate wall sculptures by Amy Gross of imaginative flora and fungi made from paper and beads\" class=\"wp-image-470294\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cMycorrhiza Web\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/gross-1.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-470289\" title=\"\u201cBroodnest Vivarium 2\u201d\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cBroodnest Vivarium 2\u201d\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cBroodnest Vivarium 2\u201d\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1200\" height=\"1581\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/gross-1.jpeg\" alt=\"An intricate sculpture inside of a glass dome vitrine by Amy Gross of imaginative flora and honeycomb made from paper and beads\" class=\"wp-image-470293\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cBroodnest Vivarium 2\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/gross-10.jpeg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-470289\" title=\"\u201cTowhee\u201d\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cTowhee\u201d\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cTowhee\u201d\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1504\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/gross-10.jpeg\" alt=\"An intricate wall sculpture by Amy Gross of imaginative flora made from paper and beads\" class=\"wp-image-470291\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cTowhee\u201d<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<aside class=\"after-entry\" role=\"complementary\" aria-label=\"After Entry\">\n<section id=\"block-16\" class=\"widget widget_block widget_text\">\n<p><mark style=\"background-color:#88caf0\" class=\"has-inline-color\"><strong>Do stories and artists like this matter to you?<\/strong><\/mark> Become a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/members\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"118516\">Colossal Member<\/a> now, and support independent arts publishing.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"block-17\" class=\"widget widget_block\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top member-benefits is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Hide advertising<\/li>\n<li>Save your favorite articles<\/li>\n<li>Get 15% off in the <a href=\"https:\/\/colossal.shop\/\">Colossal Shop<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Receive members-only newsletter<\/li>\n<li>Give 1% for art supplies in K-12 classrooms<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top member-options is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Join us today!<\/h3>\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-crow-color has-verdigris-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/colossal.memberful.com\/checkout?plan=113464\">$7\/month<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-crow-color has-verdigris-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/colossal.memberful.com\/checkout?plan=113463\">$75\/year<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-crow-color has-chalk-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/members\/\">Explore membership options<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"20\" height=\"21\" class=\"wp-image-327872\" style=\"width: 20px\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/arrow-left.svg\" alt><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/aside>\n<nav class=\"navigation post-navigation\" role=\"navigation\">\n<div class=\"nav-links\">\n<div class=\"nav-previous\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/02\/march-2026-opportunities-open-calls-residencies-grants\/\" rel=\"prev\">Next article<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/nav><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cRubra.\u201d All images courtesy of the artist, shared with permission Whimsical Beaded Sculptures by Amy Gross Meditate on Our Planet\u2019s Tiniest Life Forms February 26, 2026 ArtCraftNature Kate Mothes Share Pin Email Bookmark After more than two decades as a commercial textile designer, often working digitally, Amy Gross was drawn to making something that felt [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,270],"class_list":["post-1794884","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-thisiscolossal-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1794884","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1794884"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1794884\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1794884"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1794884"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1794884"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}