Natalie Giugni is a versatile fine artist who works in both two and three dimensions, employing various mediums such as chalk pastel, paint, bone, wood, and metal. She earned her degree at Manhattan's School of Visual Arts, supported by a full scholarship. Born in Venezuela, Natalie has traveled extensively and drawn inspiration from her experiences in Italy, South America, and Japan. She now resides in Jersey City, NJ, where she works from her home studio and serves as the president of The New York Society of Women’s Artists, an organization established in 1925.
Early in her career, Natalie participated in a project at the Russian Consulate in NYC, where she spent a year restoring original moldings with 23K gold leaf. This experience sparked her interest in working with metals, a characteristic that continues to define her art. One of Natalie's strengths is her versatility; she can seamlessly transition from the delicate precision required for gold leaf work to creating bold and whimsical pieces, like her twelve-foot replica of Judy Garland's ruby slippers from "The Wizard of Oz," made for a Children's Aid benefit at Lincoln Center.
This exhibition presents over 15 sculptures and paintings that evoke both beauty and contemplation. The title of this exhibition, 'Bones in Motion,' encapsulates a dual meaning. It signifies Natalie Giugni's ability to draw inspiration from her bone sculptures, enriching her artistic language and expanding her creative horizons. Simultaneously, it symbolizes the artist's personal journey—a triumphant resumption of her artistic endeavors after overcoming prolonged health challenges during the extended pandemic lockdown.
Through her recent works, the artist explores classical and contrasting themes such as death and rebirth, confinement and liberation, suffering, and beauty. These themes breathe new life into her sculptural works and are expressed through a mutual and profound inner emotional interplay between sculpture and painting. At times, they are also revealed with a playful and witty touch.
The artist's adept sculptures and paintings offer viewers a precious opportunity for philosophical contemplation. We invite you to experience the beautiful harmony of sculpture and painting, art, and philosophy in this exhibition.
“In-depth exploration and thorough enjoyment of the process of art making have led me to develop a unique approach to creating my work: Forms are studied through sculpture, and the contours of these objects are overlapped and abstracted using mixed media, paints, and pastels. Hence, the progression in the development of my work is from 3D to 2D. As I paint, I frequently turn the canvas, altering the direction of the shape and weight of the composition. This acts as the catalyst to my painting process: Dynamic instances arise between the layers as combinations of color, shape, and texture prompt my thoughts and reactions. I am careful to balance my role as a "creator" and a "facilitator."
In this manner, by taking shapes from the outer world and abstracting them, I am also able to study the images that arise from my inner, psychological world. The development of the surface of the work depicts the flow of events from the entire course of the piece; permitting the spectator to experience my paintings from the initial sketch to the end image. Thus, transporting the viewer from the tangible artwork through the psychological process."
- Natalie Giugni, 2023
To learn more about artist Natalie Giugni, please visit www.nataliegiugni.com.