Amy Spencer
Bio
From a young age, Amy started making botanical art as a way to preserve a memory and display something meaningful. While working as an interior designer, she had a client who needed several large scale pieces of art. The idea came to her to try pressing some large tropical leaves in hopes of framing and using them for the space. She had long admired Stuart Thornton’s work and the subdued statement his large pieces made in a room. She made a large press and checked on her experiment every couple days to see how things were progressing. When the leaves were totally dry, she had them professionally framed. They turned out just as she had hoped. As she has continued to collect and dry all dierent types of leaves and educate herself in the process, she’s discovered a passion. With nature as her medium, Amy combines dierent techniques to create art that has a quiet and humble beauty. Amy’s art is timeless and adaptable in any space. And although the idea of pressing plants has been around for centuries, her art carries with it a unique perspective and an original feel. Amy lives in Baton Rouge, LA with her husband and five boys.
The Collection
Art begins with the ability to see. I often get the question, “Where do you gather all of your leaves?”, and my answer is, “Everywhere!” To most, much of the material that I gathered and worked with for this collection would be considered discards. The wild weeds that poke through the cracks in the asphalt are just as beautiful to me, if not more, than the meticulously trimmed hedges in a garden. Where they come from makes no difference to me in what they are. I hope that this collection symbolizes the value of perspective.
