Originally from Auckland, and now based in New York, Natasha has spent the last 12 years cultivating a distinct voice in figurative painting. After training at the New York Studio School, she established her studio in Brooklyn, where her work continues to evolve in dialogue with both historical and contemporary imagery.
Blending influences from classical art, fashion, advertising, and social media, Natasha’s paintings explore the shifting representation of women across time. With a practiced hand and a critical lens, she unpacks how these portrayals shape our collective understanding of femininity and identity — and invites us to look closer. We chat with the artist ahead of her latest exhibition ‘Main Character’ which is set to open at Tāmaki Makaurau gallery Sanderson on October 15th.
In conversation with Natasha Wright
Let’s get up to speed. Tell us a bit about you and your career to date.
I’m a figurative painter based in New York. I moved to the United States to study at the New York Studio School 12 years ago and have had a studio in Brooklyn ever since. My work explores the representation of women throughout art history – drawing inspiration from depictions of women in art throughout time but also advertising, social media, and fashion. Through my paintings, I examine how these influences continue to shape our perceptions of femininity and identity.
Your latest exhibition, Main Character, will be opening at Sanderson Gallery this October. Could you tell us a little about what inspired this body of work?
“Main Character” explores the dichotomy between beauty and the grotesque, seduction and aggression, the sweet and subversive. The figures in my paintings command the space they inhabit and hold attention. They are not naive to the historical lens and male gaze they inherit. They claim their space to discover who they are on their own terms.
For this particular body of work, I’ve been interested in movement and how the internal energy of a person can create an environment outside of the body. The paintings have big swaths of paint contrasted with energy lines that run through both the figure and ground of the canvas. Rodin’s drawings were a huge source of inspiration. His figures pulsate with energy as they move between different poses.
What do you hope people feel or take away when encountering your work for the first time?
Scale is really important to my work. When the figures are life size or larger they help convey a feeling of an all engulfing power. The scale also allows me to use my whole body when I’m making the work with sweeping brushstrokes and gestures which contributes to the vigor, power and movement in the pieces. I don’t want my paintings to feel like a static image rather something that’s in flux and in motion.
How would you describe your personal style, and what influences it the most?
Classic and understated. I wear a lot of black because it’s so easy and effortless. I’m a very tactile person, so I love playing with different textures and opacities of fabric. I find how light hits certain fabrics really interesting – it can change how we read the shape of a silhouette. My personal style represents a lot of the ideas in my paintings. I like my outfits to feel strong and feminine. I love playing with the duality of something that feels more delicate and soft but pairing it with something utilitarian and bold. I never want my outfit to feel too much of one thing. It’s about finding the balance. I’m drawn to things that feel a bit beaten up and have a history.
Who or what inspires you creatively at the moment?
I’m reading the interviews between Francis Bacon and David Sylvester. He speaks very directly about the chaos of creation, failure, and the impossibility of fully controlling what one creates. I also love how he discusses the importance of chance and accident in his work. He believed that relying too much on conscious control deadened the emotional force of the image.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
I love Louise Bourgeois’ quote – “Tell your own story and you will be interesting”
Are there any New Zealand designers you gravitate toward or that more people should know about?
There are so many New Zealand designers I love. Harris Tapper’s last show at NZFW was stunning! The beaded and textured pieces were a standout.
Quick fire questions
The next item on my wardrobe wishlist is… the Khaite Clive boots in distressed black.
The book currently on my bedside table is… “A Little Life” by Hanya Yanagihara
If you could only save one item in your wardrobe, what would it be? A vintage Shearling jacket I borrowed from my mum, I’ve worn it so much that I’ve had to replace the lining.
My favourite place to dine is… I love our neighborhood local – Cecchi’s in the West Village – they have the best martinis, burgers and I love the murals by Jean-Pierre Villafane.
The song I currently have on repeat is… “Perfect Day” by Lou Reed.
Three beauty products I can’t live without… I’m a big fan of Emma Lewisham. My favourites from her range are The Skin Reset (amazing for hyperpigmentation) the Supernatural Face Crème Riche and the Illuminating oil cleanser.
