After dedicating over twenty years to the world of commercial textile design, where her work often relied on digital tools, Amy Gross shifted her focus towards creating art that feels more tangible and personal. She began crafting beaded jewelry, seeking a form of expression that she could physically hold and connect with.
As her beading techniques evolved, they began to intertwine with canvas work, gradually transforming into three-dimensional pieces. Gross explains that her creations moved beyond mere decoration; they became sculptural narratives that reflect her deep appreciation for the natural world, which has always inspired her.
Her captivating compositions feature elements of flora, fungi, and sometimes even fauna, illustrating her fascination with the intricacies of scale. Gross emphasizes that her work is not defined by size but rather by the significance of what it represents. "It's about perception, memory, and importance," she notes. Through her artistry, beads, threads, yarn, and paper morph into enchanting, miniature ecosystems.
Focusing on mushrooms, roots, leaves, and tiny creatures, Gross invites viewers to contemplate the smallest inhabitants of our planet. Her pieces also incorporate designs that evoke aspects of nature that often go unnoticed, such as spores, pollen, and microscopic organisms. "In my view, these elements hold equal weight," she asserts. "The vitality of the visible world is intricately linked to the health of these minuscule components."
Currently, Gross's artwork is showcased in two exhibitions at Momentum Gallery in Asheville, North Carolina, which represents her work. Additionally, in late 2027, her pieces will be featured in a group exhibition at the Fuller Craft Museum in Brockton, Massachusetts, and one of her sculptures is set to be included in an upcoming publication by Phaidon focusing on fungi.
Gross's enchanting sculptures not only celebrate the beauty of nature but also encourage a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of all life forms, no matter how small.
