Anicka Yi’s (American, b. South Korea, 1971) installation at Storm King for the 2026 season, Message from the Mud, resembles an archaeological dig with raw earth mounded around a central pool. Columns filled with organic matter rise from the water, growing diverse arrays of algae, cyanobacteria, and microbial colonies in layers of vibrant colors. By bringing together water and soil samples from Storm King’s South Ponds, Yi’s installation foregrounds the interdependence of life across scales while offering a complex microbiological portrait of the landscape. Message from the Mud will be the artist’s first large-scale project outdoors.


Anicka Yi: Message from the Mud is organized by Nora Lawrence, Executive Director, and Adela Goldsmith, Assistant Curator.