Molly Gambardella

Profile

Molly Gambardella (VA ’23) is an interdisciplinary artist based in Connecticut exploring the interplay among social, political, and biological systems. Her practice often results in large-scale interactive works that foster collective experiences. She draws inspiration from organisms such as lichens, flowers and horseshoe crabs, which recurrently inform the narratives woven into her work.

In the studio, Molly repurposes small, discarded, or mass-produced items, challenging their intended purpose and conventional perceptions by reassessing the significance and impact of the mundane. Integrating elements like water, wind, light, time, and sound, her approach reflects the complex interplay between natural and artificial environments, emphasizing the need for reevaluation and transformation.

She has exhibited most recently at MoCA Westport, SPRING/BREAK, and Intersect Palm Springs, continues to receive international commissions, and has been featured in publications like Sculpture, Create, and Suboart Magazine. In 2023, she was the artist in residence for The Ark Project at Yellowstone National Park. Her 2024 solo exhibition at the New England Botanic Garden featured an interactive installation combining over 2,000 living orchids with more than 60 original sculptures. Working symbiotically with her studio practice, Molly teaches studio courses at Capital Community College and the University of New Haven.