3D printed flowers by stuart semple take over jersey zoo in the UK

Stuart Semple’s glow-in-the-dark flowers bloom at Jersey zoo, uk

British artist Stuart Semple unveils Bloom, a sprawling, glow-in-the-dark installation of 5,000 vividly colored 3D printed flowers at Jersey Zoo, UK, transforming the grounds of Les Augrès Manor into a surreal meadow. On view from June 6 through September 2025, the artwork commemorates the visionary approach of British naturalist Gerald Durrell to zoo-led conservation while embodying Semple’s activist-driven practice rooted in accessibility and ecological responsibility.

Measuring seven by seven meters, the floral field is filled with six of Durrell’s favorite flowers—chrysanthemums, freesias, roses, scarlet pimpernel, crocuses, and pink magnolias—each sculpted from sustainable bioresin made of recycled castor oil and plant fibers. The flowers are hand-painted in radiant hues and coated with Semple’s proprietary ‘Lit’ pigment, allowing them to absorb sunlight and emit a gentle glow after dark.

images courtesy of Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust / Stuart Semple

a vibrant call for collective action

Stuart Semple, whose multidisciplinary practice spans sculpture, performance, and social intervention, describes Bloom as a personal full-circle moment. ‘Ever since I visited Jersey Zoo as an 8-year-old child, it’s had a place in my heart,’ the artist shares. ‘This project means the world to me, because now more than ever, Gerry’s philosophy and his conservation ethics are vital to the planet.’ Known for his colorful provocations and democratizing gestures—such as developing the Pinkest Pink and campaigning for open access to creative materials—Semple brings the same ethos to Bloom, using art to empower public agency and celebrate collective impact.

Stuart Semple presents Bloom

the installation is a living tribute to gerald durrell’s legacy

Positioned in the heart of Jersey Zoo, the installation is commissioned by the Durrell Wildlife Conservation Trust as part of GD100, the year-long celebration of what would have been naturalist Gerald Durrell’s 100th birthday, holding special significance for the community. ‘The flowers in Bloom are some of Gerry’s favorites, and I know he would’ve loved to see the colorful meadow pop up in the courtyard of his cherished Les Augrès Manor,’ says Lee Durrell, Honorary Director of the trust.

Each bloom in the installation is both a tribute and a call to action. By offering the flower sculptures for public purchase, Durrell and Semple invite individuals to literally take a piece of conservation home. Proceeds directly support the trust’s global mission to save species from extinction, with each flower symbolizing a node in the larger network of supporters, scientists, and dreamers who share in Durrell’s original vision of a wilder, healthier world.

a sprawling, glow-in-the-dark installation of 5,000 vividly colored 3D printed flowers