Assorted mushrooms in contemporary art showcased on a vibrant, colorful canvas with abstract designs.

Envisioning Nature: Francesca Gavin’s Exploration of Mushrooms in Art and Design

2026-10-22

Mushrooms in Imagination and Science

Mushrooms have fascinated us for centuries, appearing across cultures in botanical illustrations, folklore, and art. Their complex underground networks are both a marvel of nature and a subject of scientific inquiry, especially when considering mushrooms in contemporary art. Writer and curator Francesca Gavin delves into this fascination in her visual survey, Fungi: The World of Mushrooms, published by Phaidon. The book presents over 200 images illustrating the diverse roles fungi have played in art, fashion, film, and natural history.

Organic shoe sculpture made from linen and fungal materials, blending art and nature. — Kristel Peters, Mycoschoen #1, 2018. Picture credit: Kristel Peters, Studio Cojak (page 147) Trametes versicolor mixed with linen, cotton, and hemp, 6¼ × 9½ × 3½ in. / 16 × 24 × 9 cm. Private collection, Graz, Austria

Mushrooms in Contemporary Art: Tracing Fungi through Culture and Innovation

Gavin has curated exhibitions at Somerset House in London and Fundação de Serralves in Porto, showcasing mushrooms in contemporary art. Historically seen as symbols of decay, fungi have recently found new cultural representation, shifting from mere curiosity to subjects of beauty, magic, and psychedelia.

Through the book, renowned artworks by Marc Chagall, Hilma af Klint, Andy Warhol, and Takashi Murakami share pages with scientific and historical works, revealing how mushrooms bridge scientific study and artistic imagination.

Large mushroom sculptures hang upside down in an art installation space. — Carsten Höller, Upside Down Mushroom Room, 2000. Picture credit: Courtesy Carsten Höller and Fondazione Prada, Milan © Attilio Maranzano (page 111) Installation, dimensions variable. Fondazione Prada, Milan

Mushrooms in Global Contexts

Fungi offer insight into medicine and spirituality in various cultures, such as those in Asia, South America, and Russia. In the past, they were often associated with death until scientific exploration redefined them. Their inclusion in 19th-century children’s books helped normalize fungi, turning them into elements of fantasy landscapes.

Exploring fungi in global contexts, one can also see how Hanoi’s Nghia Do Kindergarten integrates nature into urban design, reflecting how architecture can benefit from natural elements.

Artists and designers like Takeshi Homma explore mushrooms’ eerie beauty and implications, while Seana Gavin and Max Hooper Schneider interpret them in collages and sculptures. Whether through playful or dark narratives, fungi in art provide endless creative inspiration.

Vivid acrylic painting depicting a cluster of abstract mushroom-like forms. — Greg Allen, Fruiting Bodies, 2017, Acrylic on canvas, 18 x 36 in./ 45.7 × 91.4 cm, Private collection in Fungi: The World of Mushrooms (Phaidon, £34.95) Phaidon.com

Architectural and Material Potential of Mycelium

Mycelium, the fungi’s networked growth form, is gaining attention in architecture and design. Researchers consider its potential for creating sustainable materials. Architect Mae Ling Lokko explores mycelium’s use in constructing bricks, signifying how fungi could redefine conventional building practices.

While these materials promise alternatives to resource-heavy products, Gavin warns against overestimating their capabilities. The allure of fungi lies not just in practicality, but also in their aesthetics and symbolism.

Sculpture of a decaying lemon adorned with colorful gemstones, reflecting organic aging. — Kathleen Ryan, Bad Lemon (Creep), 2019. Picture credit: © Kathleen Ryan (page 69) Amazonite, aventurine, black onyx, Italian onyx, turquoise, labradorite, carnelian, ocean jasper, sesame jasper, serpentine, fluorite, Ching Hai jade, snow quartz, magnesite, agate, brecciated jasper, rhodonite, rhodochrosite, red agate, garnet, tree agate, rose quartz, amethyst, lilac stone, limestone, marble, mother-of-pearl, bone, freshwater pearl, glass, and steel pins on coated polystyrene, 20 × 28½ × 20 in. / 50.8 × 72.4 × 50.8 cm. Hiscox Collection

Rethinking Ecological Relationships

Fungi challenge the notion that nature is merely a resource, opening discussions on how biological processes can influence design. Pentagram’s Hypha typeface draws inspiration from fungal growth, reflecting an interdisciplinary approach to creativity.

However, Gavin emphasizes that adopting fungal structures in design does not solve larger ecological and social issues. Instead, fungi can inspire a reconsideration of humanity’s relationship with nature, fostering necessary discourse and inspiring alternative thinking.

Enamel art installation featuring abstract design with vivid colors on metal and wood. — Geertje Geertsma, Where the Rainbow Ends, from the series Cloud Flowers, 2020. Picture credit: Geertje Geertsma (page 181) Installation with enamel on metal and wood, 4 × 4 in. / 10 × 10 cm. Private collection, the Netherlands

The Allure of the Strange and Unfamiliar

Francesca, drawn by how they transform the familiar into the fantastical. Illustrations from works like Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland highlight this enchantment.

Carsten Höller’s installation, owned by Fondazione Prada exemplifies the whimsical and outlandish possibilities mushrooms offer, combining technical skill and visual delight. Fungi: The World of Mushrooms captures this diversity, showing how their meaning evolves over time.

Whimsical mushroom-themed artwork combining playful color schemes and fun imagery. — Alake Shilling, I’m Just a Fun Guy, 2023. Picture credit: Courtesy Alake Shilling and Jeffrey Deitch, New York and Los Angeles/Collection of Shio Kusaka and Jonas Wood/Photo by Evan Bedford (page 59) Glazed fired clay, 201/2 × 19 × 17 1/2 in. / 52.1 × 48.3 × 44.5 cm. Private collection

For Gavin, understanding fungi extends beyond utility; it involves recognizing their intrinsic value and complexity, making them a rich source of inspiration across fields.

Compilation book displaying a collection of over 200 mushroom-themed artworks. — the book brings together more than 200 images

Artistically designed mushroom mask worn by a model in a dramatic fashion presentation. — Daniel Del Core in collaboration with David Åberg, Mushroom Mask, 2021. Picture credit: Artist: Björk, Photographer: Vidar Logi, Styling: Edda Gudmundsdottir, Look/Dress: Daniel Del Core, Mask: Daniel Del Core in collaboration with David Åberg (page 123) Stereolithography, resin, air-brush, and lacquer, 10 5/8 × 8 7/8 × 7 3/8 in. / 27 × 22.5 × 18.7 cm

Sustainable art piece crafted from coffee grounds and agricultural waste materials. — Nongzao, Coffee Grounds Mycelium Practice, 2024. Picture credit: Sustainable Design (Material) Museum, China (page 155) Coffee grounds, rice husks, straw and other agricultural waste, 311/2 × 235/8 × 195/8 in. / 80 × 60 × 50 cm

Book page exploring the cultural journey of mushrooms across various traditions. — the book examines how fungal forms and associations have travelled across different cultural contexts

Animated scene showing abstract mushroom designs moving across a digital canvas.

Nighttime garden scene with tall plants and glowing colors, shifting subtly in animation. — Sage Vaughn, Night Garden, 2016. Picture credit: Courtesy Vaughn (pages 156-157) Acrylic, ink, and vellum on canvas, 30 × 65 in. / 76.2 × 165.1 cm. Private collection

Sources & Links

Source: designboom.com

Frequently asked questions

How are mushrooms portrayed in contemporary art?

Mushrooms are increasingly seen as subjects of beauty, magic, and psychedelia in contemporary art. Renowned artworks by artists like Marc Chagall, Hilma af Klint, Andy Warhol, and Takashi Murakami illustrate how mushrooms have become a bridge between scientific study and artistic imagination.

What is the architectural potential of mycelium?

Mycelium is gaining attention for its potential use in sustainable architecture and design materials. Architect Mae Ling Lokko explores mycelium’s application in constructing bricks, suggesting that fungi could redefine conventional building practices.

How do fungi inspire new ecological perspectives?

Fungi challenge the view of nature as just a resource, encouraging discussions on biological processes in design. They inspire a reconsideration of humanity’s relationship with nature and foster alternative thinking on ecological issues.