Oxman

Neri Oxman grew up in Haifa, Israel, surrounded by the dual influences of art and science, with architect-academic parents who instilled in her a deep curiosity for the world. Initially pursuing a career in medicine, Neri soon realized her true passion lay in designing systems and structures that could heal and transform much like the human body. This shift led her to architecture and ultimately to the MIT Media Lab, where she founded and led the Mediated Matter Group, pioneering the field of Material Ecology. Her groundbreaking work combines biology, computation, and fabrication to create designs that mimic and integrate with the natural world, from biodesigned wearable art to architectural structures grown from silk, mycelium, or bacteria. Neri’s creations blur the boundaries between disciplines, offering a vision of design that is sustainable, regenerative, and deeply connected to nature. For her, design is not just about solving problems but about reimagining the relationship between humans and the environment. Her journey, marked by a fearless rejection of traditional boundaries, serves as a powerful example of how curiosity and interdisciplinary thinking can redefine the future.

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