Giovanna Mazzella is an artist whose practice is inspired by the natural surroundings of the Huon Valley. Working from her Wild Hive Studio in Glen Huon, she creates botanical-inspired sculptural works that explore the intricate forms, textures and ephemeral beauty of the natural world.

Through botanical casting, Giovanna captures impressions of plants, flowers, seaweed and other organic materials, translating their delicate structures into detailed bas-relief artworks. The process allows fleeting natural specimens to be preserved as sculptural objects for close observation and reflection.

Her practice has grown from a lifelong curiosity with the natural world and a diverse creative background encompassing photography, art, horticulture, landscape design, cooking and design. Her work is grounded in observation, curiosity and a deep respect for place, inviting us to slow down and notice the intricate details of the natural world

At the heart of Giovanna’s practice is her unique studio. Wild Hive Studio is handcrafted using traditional building methods and natural materials. Externally, the studio is clad in locally milled, natural-edge macrocarpa timber, while inside, high exposed timber beams and a natural-edge timber ceiling complement the walls; made from locally sourced clay, sand, oat straw, cow manure and beeswax. The studio itself reflects Giovanna’s fascination with the relationship between art, nature and place. Surrounded by an extensive cottage garden, vegetable garden, chickens and beehives, Wild Hive Studio is an immersive creative space where the materials, textures and forms of the natural world are both an ongoing source of inspiration and an integral part of the environment in which she works.