Amanda Forgash

Amanda is a botanical artist whose passion lies in creating new worlds through natural materials. That encompasses bringing to life larger immersive botanical experiences that transform an environment, such as a wedding venue, and also includes crafting mini universes meant to pull in and transfix in the viewer. She has 8 years of floral design experience, and started her own company, Amanda Forgash Design, a little under a year ago after her work in wedding sales and design became limited due to the impact of the coronavirus on the Events industry. Her current focus is crafting dried and preserved arrangements, wreaths, and cloches that function as “mini worlds,” as well as ceramic clay lady sculptures incorporating organic elements. She is also a freelance designer at various floral studios around Chicago. 

Amanda’s aesthetic is rooted architectural silhouettes with an abundance of texture and pops of color mixed in with natural elements. She sources unconventional materials like sea barnacles, crystals, grasses, and palm leaves for her dried creations, some of which she hand-paints to give them an otherworldly feel. She’s inspired by the cosmos, the landscape of the southwest, modern art, and the natural movement of plants and flowers, which she aims to honor by replicating in her designs.

Amanda has created nature-based installations for local music acts, storefront windows, and art galleries. She has participated in various floral design competitions and projects around Chicago and Milwaukee, and also enjoys instructing floral workshops. 

You can reach Amanda on Instagram @petalpushr or via email at amandaforgashdesign@gmail.com. Her clay ladies are available for purchase at Lost Girls Vintage.

Awards

Featured, Macy’s Flower Show, 2016
Featured, Fleurotica, 2017

Winner, Art in Bloom Milwaukee, 2018
Featured Art in Bloom Milwaukee, 2019

Winner, Fleur de Villes Chicago, 2019