Becoming: Where Plastic Meets Nature

In Becoming, Cody Norman transforms recycled plastic into sculptural objects that challenge our assumptions about waste and beauty. Drawing inspiration from biomimicry—the practice of emulating nature’s forms and systems—Norman’s work echoes growth and organic structure while remaining unmistakably synthetic. Installed throughout the Conservatory’s living plant collections, these works are nestled among foliage and branching forms, inviting visitors to look closely and consider what is cultivated, what is constructed, and how the boundaries between the two begin to blur. Cody Norman (b. 1992) is a Chicago-based artist, designer, and educator. He currently serves as part-time faculty in the Sculpture and Designed Objects departments at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.He is a co-founder of Redemptive Plastics and frequently collaborates with Alt_ Chicago for design and fabrication projects. Becoming opens April 8th 2026 and will be on display until June 7th, 2026.