Blooming Together
tulle, steel, cable ties
108 x 70 x 16 in
2025
"Blooming Together" is inspired by lichens, which make up the narratives woven into this installation. The gradient of tulle pompoms, each burst of color, texture, and size, reflects the intricate beauty and diversity found within lichen communities, celebrated for their wide variety of shapes, colors, and sizes.
The design's deliberate repetition is informed by the symbiotic nature of lichens—a unique partnership between fungi, algae, and sometimes cyanobacteria. This highlights the message that the collective beauty of diversity far exceeds the impact of individual elements, much like the complex unity of a lichen itself.
Set in the heart of Flatiron, Manhattan, a location visited by over 50,000 people daily, the placement of this lichen-inspired installation is as intentional as its design. Lichens are indicators of a good environment and create conditions conducive for other life to flourish. This mirrors the diverse draw of Flatiron, each finding their own connection to this location.
The installation invites an interactive and immersive experience. Through this interaction, we celebrate the often-overlooked elements of nature, transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary and ensuring that diversity is not just seen but felt.
"Blooming Together" is created from over 700 handmade fluffy pompoms, each one a stroke in a defiant gradient of joy.
The artwork was developed and installed in partnership with New York City's Flatiron Nomad District and installed in the Flatiron North Plaza in Manhattan.