Artist in Residence Program

Andi Wolfe is an evolutionary biologist, dedicated her career to delving into the intricate tapestry of plant diversity, finding inspiration in the natural world’s minutiae when viewed at high magnification. While her professional journey traversed the realms of biological exploration, her passion for artistic expression found an outlet through woodcraft.

Following her retirement in late 2022, Andi’s artistic pursuits have centered on the fusion of wood and glass in sculptural forms. Drawing from her background in botany, she integrates biological motifs into her creations.

Driven by a spirit of experimentation, Andi has embraced the challenges of working with glass, immersing herself in a spectrum of techniques including glass blowing, kiln-formed glass, glass casting and flameworking. Mirroring her approach in wood, she infuses her glasswork with biological motifs, sculpting organic forms that echo the intricate wonders of the natural world.

Through her interdisciplinary exploration of wood and glass, Andi seamlessly intertwines her scientific background with her artistic endeavors, making captivating pieces that bridge the gap between biology and art.

Andi’s Artist Statement

Nature has always been my muse. I look to living systems for their remarkable balance of form, function, structure and beauty. I am drawn to the architecture of life—the intricate ways organisms develop, grow and organize themselves—and I seek to translate these complexities into sculptural forms, surfaces and textures.

In my wood practice, I explore this relationship through surface enhancement and botanical imagery. Some references are intentionally recognizable, while others are more subtle, drawing from structures revealed when plants are examined at a microscopic level. Cellular patterns and organic geometries inspire carved textures that transform the surface of the wood into forms that are at once familiar and otherworldly.

My work in glass is likewise rooted in my attraction to the natural world. I am particularly inspired by nature’s exuberant colors—the saturated hues of flowers, foliage and other living forms. Glass allows me to explore and translate this visual richness through color, light and translucency.

Across both disciplines, I am interested in the intersection of observation and interpretation. I use the structures and visual language of nature as a starting point for exploring form, texture, color and material. Rather than simply reproducing natural forms, I reinterpret them through the distinct qualities of wood and glass. My goal is to create work that reveals the complexity and beauty of the natural world while inviting the viewer to slow down, look more closely and discover connections between the familiar and the unseen.

Proposal of Work

During her 16-week residency, Andi will make a large hollow form that has a carved leaf motif, a mixed media sculpture of wood and glass, and several smaller works as part of a demonstration rotation.

One of her goals for this residency is to be visible as an individual in an underrepresented group in woodturning. Currently, the American Association of Woodturners (AAW) has around 15,000 members, of which only 8 percent are women, and even fewer are from other underserved groups.

She has been serving on the Women in Turning (WIT) committee of AAW since its inception in 2015. She also started a private Facebook group for women and individuals identifying as women with the same name in 2014 (not associated with AAW), which currently has more than 4,500 members.

From Jan. 4 through April 24, 2027, Andi will share her creative talents through workshops, weekly studio hours, artists talks and hands-on demonstrations. Andi has work displayed at the Smithsonian American Art Museum in Washington, D.C., and Gallery of Wood Art in Minnesota. Her work is also published in several books and regularly provides demonstrations locally, nationally and internationally.