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.
Exploring hidden structures and repeated shapes in nature across the universe has always fascinated Natalie. From small-scale organisms to grandeur landscapes, their beauty is truly remarkable and it inspires her work.
Our workshop with Natalie was a delightful blend of fun and education. We honed our gilding skills while working on a preserved chicken claw & bone. Natalie’s gold leafing on the sculpture’s broken bone section held a profound meaning, adding value to what appeared destroyed and transforming it into something precious.
Turning our attention to breathing new life into objects, we transformed the chicken bone into unique and precious necklaces!
Post-gilding, we embraced creativity, experimenting with positive and negative shaped stencils inspired by Natalie’s work. We drew for 2 minutes each time, passing the piece to the next person until it returned to us, then spent 15 minutes finishing it. This process not only allowed us to enjoy the journey but also helped us overcome the fear of the blank white canvas.
A heartfelt thank you to Natalie Giugni for sharing her inspiring stories and letting us experience her creative methods. And to all who joined us on that rainy day, your presence made our artful afternoon truly memorable!
This program is made possible in part with public funds from the Queens Arts Fund, a re-grant program supported by New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council and administered by New York Foundation for the Arts.
This program is also supported in part by Queens Rising, a multi disciplinary arts celebration created to highlight the borough's culture and creative diversity.