Issy Wilson is a Chicago and London-based artist whose practice explores ecological systems through drawing, painting, and textile-based work. Rooted in close observation of the natural world, she translates processes such as growth, erosion, and interconnection into material-led studio methodologies. Her work examines the connective structures of forests—roots, mycelium, lichen, and moss—drawing parallels between these dendritic forms and bodily and geological networks.

A formative influence on her practice was completing the 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail in 2022. This extended immersion in landscape continues to inform her approach, where works develop symbiotically within the studio, functioning as an ecosystem shaped by cycles of layering, saturation, and reworking. Committed to sustainability, she works with natural pigments, inks, cotton fibers, and paper, allowing material processes to guide the evolution of each piece.

Wilson’s recent solo exhibition, Boundary Layer (2026) at PAGODA RED Gallery, Chicago, explored moss as both subject and methodology, investigating its capacity to cultivate microclimates and redefine surface and edge. This follows her first solo exhibition, Rhizomes (2025) at the Patrician Gallery, Chicago, IL 2025. 

She has presented lectures and participated in panels on art and ecology at the Royal College of Art, Brighton University, and at the Burren College of Art. She has undertaken residencies in Ireland and London, including the Studio West Artist Residency, created by Caroline Boseley. She is currently completing this studio program that has granted her a a fully-funded studio space for 9-months in London where she continues to work and exhibit her artwork.