Bio
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.
Malaika’s connection to nature is rooted in her upbringing on the small island of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. As a child, she spent countless hours outdoors—playing in the soil, walking among tall grasses, feeding goats, and learning about plant-based healing from the women in her family. Her grandmother, a small-scale farmer, cultivated an abundant kitchen garden, where Malaika learned that honoring the land is essential to life. These early experiences continue to shape her artistic vision today.
