About Natalya Aikens
Architecturally inspired, delicately stitched: that is the motto for my art. The core of my art is deeply rooted in my Russian heritage and the architectural imagery of St. Petersburg and New York City, coupled with the use of recycled materials such as paper, plastics, and vintage fabrics. Computer photo manipulation, and intense hand and machine stitching, and translucent effects are the techniques I favor.
On heritage – My Russian heritage is very important to me, and it is of special importance to be passing it on to my children. I want to share my love of its folklore, decorative traditions and fairytales; I want to glorify these in my art; I am also passionate about St. Petersburg, and all it’s architecture: iconic churches, secular buildings, both new and fading. New York City, as my home base, has also become important to me. These two cities now provide me with endless creative inspirations.
On recycling – I feel guilty and sad when I see trash along the roads, read about the great plastic garbage patch in our oceans and about plastic bags contaminating our recycling. By using the hard-to-recycle materials such as plastic bags, plastic mesh bags and papers in my art, I feel that in a tiny way I am helping the environment and raising awareness of the problem. I also love vintage fabrics and use them liberally in my artwork. When the vintage cloth comes from a family member or a friend, it adds another layer of personal significance to my art. I strive to make all the recyclables in my art look like treasures, regardless of their origin. They must be undetectable in my work, transformed into something sophisticated and beautiful.
On my techniques – I love photography, being an amateur photographer is in my blood. Working on photographs in Photoshop enables me to transform the amateur photograph into a desirable element of my artwork. The sewing machine is one of my most important drawing tools, as are my hands - hand stitching is my favorite way of expressing myself and adding visual texture to almost all my art.
Exploring and marrying together of the disparate influences on my art – heritage and recycling – is my greatest challenge and my greatest pleasure. It is what drives me into my studio everyday.
Exhibitions:
2014
City Lines Solo Exhibit, Etui Gallery, Larchmont, NY
Westchester Biennial, Castle Gallery, College of New Rochelle, NY
What the Fiber, Windsor Arts Center, Princeton Junction, NJ
2013
Summer ARTiculated, Osilas GAllery, Concordia College, Bronxville, NY
Kimono Inspirations, FiberArtNE, The Art Quilt Gallery, New York, NY
63rd Annual Art of the Northeast, Silvermine Arts Center, New Canaan, CT
Quilt National 2013, Dairy Barn Arts Center, Athens, OH
2012
Rituals Invitational, International Quilt Festival, Houston, TX
Tactile Architecture, International Quilt Festival, Houston, TX
Softer Edges-Fiber Artists & the Urban Environment, Fleisher Art Memorial, Philadelphia PA
Synchronicity, HighWire Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Piecing It Together, ArtsWestchester, White Plains, New York
2011
A Spin on Green, KMAA Members' at ArtsWestchester, White Plains, New York
Fiber Revolution:Visual Thoughts, Morris Museum, Morristown, New Jersey
The Space Between, International Quilt Festival, Long Beach, CA
Beyond Comfort(Invitational), Festival of Quilts, Birmingham, England
Volusia Wrapped in Fiber, Gateway Center for the Arts, DeBary, FL
Fiber Revolution, West Windsor Arts Council, Princeton, NJ
Identity in Fiber, Windsor Art Center, Windsor, CT
