"Flora Field" by Van Dyck Murphy Studio is a digitally fabricated terracotta screen wall that reinterprets architectural ornament using sustainable materials and modern technology.
Installed in the shadow of the pioneering Wainwright Building, the piece pays tribute to the building's original terra cotta detailing while introducing a contemporary approach. Designed by Kelley Van Dyck Murphy and Jonathan Murphy, the artwork consists of nearly 200 clay units, each 3D printed and assembled into a ten-by-ten-foot screen supported by a custom steel frame and concrete base.
The name "Flora Field" draws from the building's decorative motifs, including hops flowers that reference the original owner's brewing business. The term "field" refers to a network of related components in architecture, and the piece resembles a dynamic grid of floral forms, each subtly distinct yet part of a unified whole.
What makes this installation especially compelling is its material innovation. Instead of using plastic filament, the artists employed locally sourced clay, merging ancient craft with digital fabrication. The clay is extruded layer by layer using a 3D printer, guided by slicing software that translates the design into precise instructions.
[Review 1172 of 2025 - 438 in Missouri - 24725 overall] read more