Gillian Harper
illian Harper is a sculptor and interdisciplinary artist based in St. Petersburg, Florida. Her practice investigates the intersections of ecology, memory, and material transformation, utilizing a diverse array of media including cast iron, bronze, steel, wood, found objects, and organic matter. Through both traditional and experimental techniques, Harper creates tactile works that explore the complexities of natural systems and human impact on the environment.
Raised along the East Coast, Harper’s connection to water, landscape, and impermanence shapes her conceptual framework. Her projects, such as Winding Down River Road, delve into the legacies of environmental exploitation and the convoluted patterns of migration and industry. In her series Derived from Nature, she examines organic forms and their resilience, crafting sculptures that reflect the cyclical processes of growth and decay.
Harper earned her B.F.A. from the University of North Florida and her M.F.A. from Louisiana State University, where she deepened her research into sustainable material practices and environmental symbolism in sculpture. She has exhibited her work regionally and nationally and is deeply invested in collaboration—whether with other artists or members of the public—as a way to expand the reach and resonance of her practice.
In addition to her studio work, Harper has participated in public art installations and continues to cultivate conversations around material culture, environmental change, and the role of sculpture in public space.
