Hattie Molloy: Held in the Soil - An Installation Grown Over Time
Super Bloom were over the moon when friend and superstar floral artist Hattie Molloy approached us for support in growing her latest installation for Melbourne Art Fair. Join us as we talk to Hattie about her inspiration for the installation, how it came together and what it was like growing her own plants with support from Super Bloom.
SB: What is the story behind the installation and what inspired its design?
Hattie: I’ve always been deeply interested in growing plants and the full life cycle they move through. My practice began in floristry, but I often felt limited by the end product, the perfect farmed flower, which only captures the final moment of growth. What truly fascinates me is everything that comes before that: the soil, the seed, and the process of growth itself.
Traditionally, the grow crates I used have been used by growers to cultivate cut flower tulips, and that’s where I got the idea that I could grow plants in them for an installation. I’ve used plants in installations before, but when sourced from wholesalers, they’re always very contained and perfect. I wanted to show a more organic, unruly form, something that isn’t over-manicured or perfectly finished.
I was lucky to have someone like Jac I could call and say, “Hey, I have this crazy idea… I’d like to grow a giant installation from seed.” Jac and Super Bloom helped facilitate the project. It was serendipitous, as Jac was working on a similar installation for the upcoming Melbourne Flower and Garden Show.
This installation celebrates that unseen journey. It has a life cycle of its own and has been grown specifically from seed for this event, which makes it especially meaningful. Watching it develop slowly over time, rather than arriving fully formed, is what makes this work so special to me.
SB: Have you used any particular plants? If yes, what are they and why did you select them?
Hattie: The installation is composed of around 90% annuals grown from seed, featuring approximately 40 different species. Each plant was selected for how it grows, interacts, and evolves alongside the others over time, rather than for a single, predetermined aesthetic. The focus is on the dynamic process of growth and the relationships that emerge as the installation develops.
SB: Can you tell me a bit more about the design process for the installation?
Hattie: This process was very different from how I usually work. Normally, I design with materials that are already grown and physically present. For this installation, I had to rely much more on imagination and planning, picturing how all the elements would eventually come together without seeing them yet.
That shift was challenging but exciting. The work feels very personal because I’ve been watching and tending to it for the past five months with the support of Super Bloom. I constantly wondered about the weather, timing, and whether it would grow at the right pace. Being directly responsible for the outcome has been a completely different experience from working with pre-grown flowers or plants.
SB: Why was it important to you to grow the plants? How does this differ from how you usually source plants?
Hattie: Growing the plants allowed me to engage with every stage of their life, rather than stepping in at the end. Unlike my usual process of sourcing fully grown plants, this required patience, care, and ongoing attention. That responsibility and connection fundamentally changed how I relate to the work.
Hattie’s exhibition was at Melbourne Art Fair 2026.
For more on the wonders of Hattie Molloy
Images: Phillip Huynh