Jonathan Lanier (born in 1996-Alabama) is an artist currently living and working in Chicago, Illinois. Having spent a lot of time outdoors from a young age, Lanier has long been fascinated by patterns of growth found in the natural world. This interest in how things grow is the foundation of his sculptural practice. He works primarily with wood, occasionally in combination with metal, fibers and other materials. He employs techniques like carving, fabrication, casting and hand-building to create abstract works inspired by the formal qualities of various organisms. These organisms include plants, insects, fungal growths and more. Looking intently at their characteristics informs the structural and formal decisions made in the studio. The works employ modular and systematic strategies; in this way, they suggest that a kind of evolution is happening. The process of modular assembly in various environments leads the artist to compose the works in relationship to the space and adjacent works. Rather than aiming to make a representation of nature, Lanier’s work illustrates growth as an idea.