Malaika Ross
Malaika Ross (she/her) is a Caribbean American visual artist whose work explores the intricate relationship between soil and the botanical world. She creates two-dimensional art inspired by soil microorganisms and the flora of Western Massachusetts.
She earned her B.A. from Hampshire College, where she focused on soil microbiology. Her Div III thesis, The Impact of Solar Arrays on Soil Microbial Activity, reflected her deep interest in the unseen life beneath our feet. In 2019, inspired by the shapes of soil microbes, she shifted from scientific research to visual storytelling, using drawing and painting to express the beauty of these microscopic forms. Over time, her work expanded into botanical painting, capturing both introduced and native plant species with expressive, organic compositions.
In 2023, her practice was deeply impacted by a breast cancer diagnosis, which now informs two ongoing projects: The Visibility Project and Novel Bodies, Novel Landscapes. Both center the Black female figure in real and imagined spaces, with paintings that reflect healing, power, and transformation. Through this work, she reimagines Black women beyond the confines of history, expectation, and erasure.
Contact
malaikaross.com
malaikaross.studio@gmail.com
@malaikaross_studio
Interview
What inspires your art practice and keeps you motivated?
The natural world deeply inspires my art practice, especially during the spring, summer, and fall seasons. Each shift in the Northeast brings new plant life, from wild weeds to cultivated flowers, and transforms the landscape with subtle changes in color. I’m drawn to the emergence of plants from the soil and the challenge of capturing the essence of this dynamic environment. Through texture and pattern, I strive to reflect nature’s complexity and invite us to recognize our place within it.
How does your mission as an artist influence the work you create?
My mission as an artist is to develop a distinct visual language and create work that unmistakably reflects my voice. I intuitively blend botanical realism with abstraction, weaving microscopic patterns into my floral compositions. These intricate, microbial-like designs reference the unseen internal processes I explored while studying soil microbiology as an undergraduate. Through this fusion, I aim to reveal the hidden layers of life within the natural world.
Can you share a key part of your creative process that helps you stay focused?
Daily exercise, meditation, and journaling help me stay focused on my overall health, which provides the foundation for my creative practice. My goal is to engage in these practices most days, as they not only support my art but are an integral part of it. I see them as essential rituals that keep me grounded, inspired, and connected to my purpose. I want to create work for the rest of my life, and caring for my well-being is key to sustaining that lifelong journey.
What mindset tip do you rely on to overcome challenges in your art career?
One mindset tip I rely on is remembering that this is a lifelong career—one that only strengthens with each piece I create. Even paintings that don’t fully succeed are valuable learning opportunities that help me grow as a fine artist and refine my visual language. I see every challenge as a step forward, trusting that consistent effort and reflection will lead to deeper expression and mastery over time.
How do you hope your art impacts the world or your community?
I want my art to inspire others to create in the visual language that resonates most with them and to strengthen their own artistic voice. I also hope more people will share the artwork they’ve collected and speak about why it holds meaning for them. My work aims to encourage both the making of art and deeper conversations about its personal and cultural significance. We’re creating irreplaceable works of art every day—this is humanity in the making, and it has the power to uplift, connect, and move us toward a more just world.
