From wood to stone to steel and glass, building materials have changed dramatically over time. Structures have evolved and populations have exploded. Nature is receding; forests of green are being replaced by forests of grey. ‘’From the Ground Up’’ is a phrase taken from conversations relating to renovation, cultivation and change but is also the physical action of growth, starting with a small seed and ending with a forest or field.

This collection reflects on a future in which the built world continues to expand, gradually overtaking what we once understood as natural. Drawing from the language of construction and infrastructure, its form references foundations, pipelines, and engineered joints that increasingly shape our landscapes. Softened and slowed, these industrial elements begin to mimic processes of growth, erosion, and flow. In doing so, the work suggests a world where technology and structure may come to replace organic nature. It invites reflection on how ideas of “nature” might shift as human-made systems become our dominant environment.

A singular square pipe is not felled but extruded, forced through a former like a seed breaking topsoil, we then mark it and peel back the steel breaking its flat unyielding surface to form branch like compositions, organic life manipulating the inorganic to appear organic. The branches are sometimes adorned with lighting elements at the discretion of the artist, expressing the unreserved control humans have over the form and function of a built object in stark contrast to nature. Though the objects resemble trees, they are fundamentally artificial, dependent on imposed structure rather than organic growth. They hint at a future that emerges when natural systems are pushed beyond their limits.

We are often described as living during a tipping point on the path toward a dystopian future. Studio Michael McCready uses industrial materials blended with organic aesthetics and details to echo this period we exist in.

Each ‘‘From The Ground Up” installation is produced by hand in our workshop. To purchase please click the purchase button above to be directed to our online store. For business purchases or private commissions please do not hesitate to contact us.

Photos by Rūta.Žukė