Sydney Gross Memorial Lecture by Mary Mattingly

This lecture traces the arc of Waterpod, Flock House, and Swale, public art projects that explore collectivity, ecological interdependence, and the role of artists in imagining alternative futures. Mattingly will share the questions that drive her work: Who is art for? What can it shift? How can seemingly absurd ideas become tools for connection and change? The talk offers a look into the purpose, process, and politics of public art in a time of climate crisis.

Her best-known project, Swale, is a floating food forest on a barge in New York City. It offered free access to fruits and vegetables, challenging local laws that prohibit foraging on public land and reimagining how urban infrastructure can serve communities. Much of Mattingly’s work transforms industrial materials into sculptural ecosystems that support food, water, and shelter. Bringing together environmental research, policy, and design, she advocates for the commons and more resilient, inclusive systems.

Mattingly’s work has been exhibited widely, including at the Brooklyn Museum, the International Center of Photography, the Palais de Tokyo, and the Havana Biennial. She has received fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, the Harpo Foundation, and the Knight Foundation. At its core, her practice imagines ecosystems of care through temporary platforms she calls “proposals.”