Nature and Earth-Inspired Art Installations
Art should not be separate from nature. I build with soil, clay, and organic elements to create stories that breathe and grow, turning spaces into living landscapes.
I believe trees have spirits, so I created this 'tree buddy' during a workshop. Using natural clay, I sculpted a face directly onto the trunk of a tree, giving it a personality and a presence. It’s my way of personifying and connecting with the living world around us.
I believe trees have spirits, so I created this 'tree buddy' during a workshop. Using natural clay, I sculpted a face directly onto the trunk of a tree, giving it a personality and a presence. It’s my way of personifying and connecting with the living world around us.
This sculpture, part of my 'Dirty Fertility' series, is made entirely from soil and straw. With a living plant growing from her head, she represents Mother Earth and the fertile, life-giving power that we often take for granted or stigmatize.
This sculpture, part of my 'Dirty Fertility' series, is made entirely from soil and straw. With a living plant growing from her head, she represents Mother Earth and the fertile, life-giving power that we often take for granted or stigmatize.
This sculpture, part of my 'Dirty Fertility' series, is made entirely from soil and straw. With a living plant growing from her head, she represents Mother Earth and the fertile, life-giving power that we often take for granted or stigmatize.
Sometimes the most beautiful collaborations are with nature itself. I love creating these meditative, temporary art pieces using found materials like fallen leaves, stones, and twigs. It’s a practice of being present and finding art in the world just as it is.
Sometimes the most beautiful collaborations are with nature itself. I love creating these meditative, temporary art pieces using found materials like fallen leaves, stones, and twigs. It’s a practice of being present and finding art in the world just as it is.
Sometimes the most beautiful collaborations are with nature itself. I love creating these meditative, temporary art pieces using found materials like fallen leaves, stones, and twigs. It’s a practice of being present and finding art in the world just as it is.
Sometimes the most beautiful collaborations are with nature itself. I love creating these meditative, temporary art pieces using found materials like fallen leaves, stones, and twigs. It’s a practice of being present and finding art in the world just as it is.
I am fascinated by the moon, and I created this large, textured sculpture to capture its cratered surface. Made with cement, this piece, nicknamed 'Neesa', was a satisfying process of sculpting and texturing to bring a little piece of the cosmos into a home.
About Nature & Earth-Based Art
Working with soil, clay, and raw elements is not just about creating a sculpture. It is about bringing the outdoors inside and letting the material dictate the form. These pieces are tactile and organic, evolving in their own way, and they invite you to touch, connect, and reclaim your relationship with the earth.
My practice is less about perfecting a form and more about understanding the medium. Whether it is sculpting a 'tree buddy' onto a trunk during an outdoor workshop or using soil and straw to explore deeper, often stigmatized themes like fertility, my approach remains the same: I listen to the material. I work with natural clay, fallen leaves, stones, and earth to create something that feels like it belongs in the environment.
For projects like my 'Dirty Fertility' series, I used raw soil and straw to craft sculptures that challenge how we view the ground we walk on. These are not precious objects meant to sit behind glass. They are raw, honest, and part of a cycle. If you have a space that needs a bit of the wild brought indoors, or if you want to host a workshop that gets your hands into the dirt, let's talk about what we can create. I bring the earth, the curiosity, and the tools; together, we bring the stories to life.
I focus on sustainable art installations that use what the earth gives us—be it fallen branches, river stones, or local soil. This is about finding beauty in the temporary and the grounded. If you are looking for eco-conscious decor that tells a story, reach out and we can plan something that resonates with your space.
Madhuri Umashankar
I'm Madhuri. I believe art shouldn't stay on a canvas or behind a 'do not touch' sign. I work with earth and found objects to build installations that feel like they've grown into your space rather than just being placed there.
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