CREATIVE DISCIPLINE-
Sculpture, Mixed-Media

PRIMARY MEDIUM(S)-
Metal

ARTIST STATEMENT-
I work with various methods and materials, not only subjects. But my core intention in creating artwork is to communicate with others by asking unanswerable questions and trying to find perfect yet unexplainable answers. It is like catching a cloud, but I find that it's the most genuine way of communication. Each of my works has its own narrative inspired by observations through my life experiences. Sometimes, it comes out naturally; other times, it is done more intensionally, like writing a story. And I am looking for surprises in the audience's reactions that change from the first impression to the next as the layers are revealed by experiencing the work. That's why some of my works contain kinetic or interactive elements.

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY-
Natsuki Takauji was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan, and currently lives and works in NYC. She is an interdisciplinary visual artist practicing sculpture, painting, printmaking, installation, and literature. She is an instructor of Metal Sculpture and leads a public art program in partnership with the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation called Works in Public at The Art Students League of New York. She also serves as a director of Metal Sculptures at Sculptors Alliance, Inc., for which she curated exhibitions. In 2021, she co-founded The Artist Gardener NYC to activate the greenspaces like community gardens in NYC through public programs such as art exhibitions, workshops, concerts, and guided tours. Her public sculpture exhibitions include “Tree of Life” (2014-15) at Van Cortlandt Park, Bronx, "Window" (2014-15) at Riverside Park 61st Street, Manhattan, "Window II" (2019-20) at Rye Town Park, Rye, NY, currently installed at Oeno Gallery, Ontario, Canada. “Confession” (2020) and “Wish Garden” (2021) at the West 132nd Street Harlem Community Garden, The Artist Gardener NYC. “Shin Project -Tree, Temple, and My Scarf-” (2022) at Two Coves Community Garden, Astoria, NY. She completed a collaborative project, "What Is Your Name?" during the ArtPort Residency at the LaGuardia Airport, Queens, NY, and was exhibited in The Immigrant Artist Biennial, 2020. Currently, it is a permanent collection of the Port Authority of NY and NJ. Her exhibition venues include the Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, NE, Lithuanian Alliance of America, NY, the Center for Contemporary Art in Bedminster, NJ, Palazzo Mora in the 16th Venice Biennale, Italy, CICA Museum, Korea, Kameyama Triennale, Japan, and more. She was awarded grants from the Queens Council on the Arts, NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, New York City Council, NY Foundation for the Arts, and more. She received B.A. in Creative Writing from Waseda University, Tokyo, Japan, and a Certificate of Fine Art Painting and Sculpture from The Art Students League of New York.

Facebook-
@windowbynatsukitakauji

Instagram-
@natsukiuji

Queens, New York

Natsuki Takauji