Mending Relations – Natalia Smith
Mending Relations – Natalia Smith
My work embodies an intimate connection with geological ecosystems, encouraging the idea of coexisting with the natural world rather than dominating it. Through painted narratives and utopic imaginings in which hierarchical structures do not exist, my work dismantles the notion that women and nature are inherently chaotic and in need of control. Instead, I aim to highlight an organic and symbiotic relationship between women and land, to liberate both entities from social, economic, and political structures of oppression.
I work primarily in painting though my art practice also encompasses printmaking and textiles. I am inspired by occurrences in my everyday life, including mundane domestic rituals, autobiographical narratives, and phenomenological experiences in nature. I use memories and photographic references of flora and fauna in the creation of my pieces. I often incorporate the human figure into my paintings using myself as a model, setting up the camera and capturing poses I envision for an image. By entangling the figure and environmental elements together, my intention is to harness the synergy and force these two entities create while also channeling the peacefulness and emancipation felt in a natural space distinct from an institutional one.
Positioned within an eco-feminist framework, my work is in dialogue with the lineage of feminist and ecological practices that critique systems of power while envisioning new ways of coexisting with the environment. Through this, I aim to contribute to ongoing conversations about the intersections of art, ecology, and feminism.
Natalia Smith is a multidisciplinary artist working primarily in painting. Her work explores themes of identity, relationships, and eco-feminism within an autobiographical framework. She often incorporates the figure as the central subject to manifest these ideas.
Natalia has participated in exhibitions in Lethbridge at the Penny Gallery in the Fluidity exhibition in 2024, and at Casa in Making it Big in 2023. She is an Art Studio Major in the Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program at the University of Lethbridge.
Date:January 25th, 2025 - March 21st, 2025
Location:Casa - Platform
Casa Program Guide
The Casa Program Guide is produced three times a year; Winter, Spring/Summer and Fall. Inside the guide find listings for the upcoming class and workshop schedule, upcoming exhibitions at The Gallery, information about artists in residence and seasonal events in the building. Program guides are free. Pick-up guides at Casa or at facilities throughout the city.