ARTIST STATEMENT
I aspire to illustrate the intersection between the conscious and the unconscious. I do this by quieting my mind and hands. By tuning in. I rarely plan. Instead I wait for inspiration. When I let things flow and unfold naturally surprising and delightful things happen. In the end, I wonder, can I take all the credit?
My work is hand built. I use slabs, coils, pinching and carving techniques to produce forms and shapes that are organic, biological, alive. Like nature, nothing I make is perfect and I like it that way. Seams and connections are evident. Surfaces have my fingerprints. Edges are wonky or uneven. The objects themselves lean and tilt giving each piece a vibrancy and a personality of its own.
I deliberately choose to work in a limited black and white palette. This decision frees me to concentrate on composition and design. It also enables me to explore the relationships between the elements of design. I appreciate the uncomplicated, calm and quiet nature of black and white that, when combined with my visual vocabulary I enable the viewer permission to connect to something deep within themselves.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Born into a family of artists in Chicago, Illinois, I’ve been drawn to creating for as long as I can remember. Art wasn’t just something I did—it was woven into the fabric of my life from childhood.
After eleven years of study and travel, I earned my BFA in Art Education from The School of the Art Institute in 1981. What followed was a rich, winding journey that took me through community projects (supported by Illinois Arts Council grants), teaching positions, and continuous studio practice. At the same time I got married, built a solar house, raised two daughters, homeschooled and ran a small business.
In 2005, I stumbled onto the world of mosaic and fell completely under its spell. For over twelve years, I immersed myself in the medium—learning, studying with renowned masters, teaching and exhibiting work internationally in addition to opening a small retail store called Tiny Pieces, for mosaic tools and supplies. In 2018, I made a decision I’d been postponing for too long: I closed the business to become a full-time artist.
Today, I have a home studio and work primarily but not exclusively in clay. For about five years I took my work to art fairs and festivals around the Midwest. More recently I have been exhibiting my work in local galleries and various shows around the US.
© Andryea Natkin