Today we’d like to introduce you to Natassia Wilde.
Hi Natassia, I am so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, how can you bring our readers up to speed on your story? How did you get to where you are today?
I grew up in an artistic and entrepreneurial household. My mother is a nationally recognized pastel artist, and I always watched her create daily, no matter where we were. My parents are entrepreneurs, and I grew up with a sense of possibility; anything you set your mind to can be accomplished. I was interested in fashion and art and went to school to be a fashion designer. Still, within the first couple of years, I decided to change my major to Marketing and move to Austin, where I got my degree from St. Edward’s University. Never one to stay in one place for a long time, I traveled as much as possible. On those trips, I took lots of photographs. I quickly realized that photography was my favorite way to express myself creatively. I got my first professional camera in 2017 and took it wherever I went. In 2019, I upgraded my camera and decided to go into photography professionally. I traveled cross country with it and captured many national and state parks.
When I returned to Austin, I focused on getting my photos into galleries. I have lived in Austin since 2007 and have an extensive friend group of creatives. It would be great to jumpstart my artistic endeavors by throwing art shows. At that same time, my friend of several years, Jonathan Garza (known for his photography in Austin), was looking for a partner to do that. He rented half of a warehouse space in the Saint Elmo area in South Austin to use as a gallery and artist studio.
We immediately got to work on a show and had our first exhibition, Elevated Underground, at the end of July 2021. It was a huge hit, and we immediately knew we had something special. From there, we kept going and involved many artists around Austin. I also showed my photography, and my work received a lot of positive feedback and sales. The atmosphere was energetic and inclusive, and the creativity in the air was evident to anyone who entered that space. We produced at least one show per month until May of the following year, when Almost Real Things decided they wanted to do some more of their own events in that space.
I was hooked. I had found my calling. Art curation and event production perfectly align with my natural talents, abilities, and professional experience. Since leaving that space, I have partnered with several other curators and event producers in the city, doing pop-up shows and exhibitions whenever a venue became available. I worked with Samantha Anne to curate a series of exhibitions at the W Hotel and partnered with Loria Mendoza to put on a huge group show called Heat Waves at ArtUsCo Gallery. I’ve also helped produce fashion shows, which are so much fun and bring my love of art and fashion together beautifully. The show I produced with Courtney Crash of ATX Thrift was featured in the December issue of a local magazine called Eclectic Shades, which Ivan Miller produced. Starting in January 2023, I am excited to add my pen to the mag with my column, where I write about all things artsy in Austin. I also have an ongoing project with the local restaurant, Show Me Pizza, where an artist is commissioned each quarter to create a design made into a stamp for the pizza boxes. The project, which started with the growing legend TVHead ATX, has gotten a lot of recognition, and it was featured in an August 2022 edition of the Austin Chronicle both online and in print.
I plan to partner with more Austin creatives and arts organizations to collaborate on even more fantastic events for the community. I have been able to help many artists sell their work and gain recognition for their talents, but I couldn’t have done it without the community’s support. I appreciate everyone who has lent a hand, paintbrush, or hammer to the efforts!
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far, would you say the journey has been a reasonably smooth road?
It has been a fantastic experience, but not without some struggle. Austin is only now seeming to open its eyes to the vast network of creatives that have always lived here but have yet to gain recognition compared to major cities like Houston and Dallas. Even our close neighbor, San Antonio, has a much more established reputation for fine art than Austin. My mission is to create more awareness about Austin’s incredible culture, especially for newcomers to the city. When I moved to Austin for school, I found a place where your weirdness was welcome. It wasn’t about what you were wearing or who you knew but about what you were doing creatively. That environment gave me the room to become who I am today, and I will forever be grateful to this uniquely wonderful town. I have tried to connect with as many gallerists and curators as possible in Austin and the surrounding area. It’s important to ask the right questions and find out what works and doesn’t to make it financially viable to maintain a gallery space while authentically supporting the artistic community. I continue seeking mentors who have more experience and longevity in the arts. Using our voices to make the city aware of the need for financial support for the visual arts is important. Many underutilized commercial and private spaces in Austin could be activated as temporary galleries and exhibition or performance spaces. Some walls commissioned murals could beautify. I am actively seeking out individuals and organizations that share my belief that what makes Austin so special is its creative community. We need the monetary support of the giant corporations that have planted themselves in our beautiful city to keep the culture alive and thriving.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about Wilde Art Curations?
Wilde Art Curations can be consulted for many art services, including concierge art consulting, artist representation, art tours, curation services, mural contracting, and event productions. It is a singular source for individuals and businesses that wish to support and collaborate with creatives. Please allow me to assist you in finding the perfect art for your home or business, including short-term art rentals. Wilde Art Curations continually seeks collaborations with underutilized spaces to coordinate showings and pop-up galleries. Please contact me to connect about a space that could be activated somehow or for any other reason. Please follow me on Instagram on my channels, and subscribe to my websites, www.wildeartcurations.com and www.natassiawilde.com, to keep up with all the fun coming up.
Have you learned any exciting or essential lessons due to the COVID-19 crisis?
Quarantine pushed me to do what I felt driven to do. It helped me to recognize what I find essential and emphasized the urgency to do it right now. We never know what tomorrow has in store for us. So, I knew I had to pursue my dreams without hesitation and wanted to help others do the same.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.wildeartcurations.com / www.natassiawilde.com
- Instagram: @
natassiawildeforart / @natassiawildephotography - Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/toolegittosmit
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@WildeForArt/featured
- TikTok: natassiawilde6
Image Credits
Natassia holding a camera was shot by Jonathan Garza. The rest of the photos are by Natassia Wilde.
