Self-Organism

I enjoy making art that is actively influenced by bacteria and various different organisms too small to be seen with the naked eye – otherwise known as microorganisms. For this work, I made several casts of my own body using alginate and silicone molding techniques. I covered them in nutrient gel, then coated my pieces with the microorganisms that live on my skin, in my digestive tract, in my vagina, and in my everyday environment. Once simply plaster, the sculptures are now organisms in their own right – the bacterial component of who I am, made visible. I’ve documented the growth of my microorganisms through timelapse and captured their relationship to their environment, their original habitat (my body), and how they influence mental and physical health via a series of photographs. These photographs invite viewers into surreal spaces where they can explore disgust, identity, and temporal change. By making a microbial copy of myself, I delve into questions about what connects and separates an individual and their microbiome, and what it means to be human while so many microorganisms call us home.

Growth Timelapse – Head and Foot


A woman calmly holding a plaster bust covered in bacteria.
A woman tenderly holding a plaster bust covered in bacteria and mold.
A woman in her messy bedroom, with a plaster bust covered in bacteria, held in her arms.
A plaster foot covered in bacteria sitting in a fridge full of food.
A woman eating ketchup in front of a fridge, in front of a plaster foot covered in bacteria sitting on a fridge shelf.
A plaster foot covered in bacteria on the shelf of a refrigerator.
A woman eating ketchup in front of a fridge, in front of a plaster foot covered in bacteria sitting on a fridge shelf.
Photo of a woman and a plaster bust covered in bacteria reflected in a mirror.