Amy Rusch

Amy Rusch (b. 1990, Cape Town) is a multidisciplinary artist whose research explores the relationship between material, waste and environmental discourse through the meticulous process of machine-stitching discarded plastics. Transforming waste into layered, meditative compositions, her work captures the underlying tension between human time and geological deep time, guided by an acute sensitivity to sound, rhythm, and the physical act of making.

Working primarily with stitched layers of found plastic bags, Rusch creates highly tactile and visual surfaces that embody the sensory memory of labor and motion. The mechanical hum of the sewing machine becomes an essential element of the final work. Her practice draws directly from fieldwork—including archaeological research, oceanic crossings, and microscopic observation—translating live experience across varying scales and temporalities.

Rusch has exhibited widely at major institutions, including the Norval Foundation, Iziko South African National Gallery, and Zeitz MOCAA, alongside contributing to the precise replication of key archaeological artifacts. In addition to maintaining a full-time studio practice, she actively presents work at international art fairs and exhibitions with Suburbia Contemporary while continuing her engagement with archaeological and film projects across South Africa.