The Chrysanthemum and the Sword

NATSUKI TAKAUJI was born in Tokyo, Japan, and moved to NYC in 2008 to discover herself as anartist after receiving a B.A. in Creative Writing from Waseda University. Her mother was also a writer,
however, she realized her strong desire to explore tactile and visual expression. She studied Fine Art at the historical art school, The Art Students League of New York, where she found her American life and
the beginning of her artistic career: in 2013, she was selected to the Model to Monument Program to create her first public installation “Window” at Riverside Park South, which was an over 18 foot colorful interactive sculpture with a functional swing, inspired by her mixed-media wire sculpture series. Since then, she is actively involved in the NYC public art scene as an exhibitor and curator/organizer. In 2021,
she became co-director of the program. She is also an instructor of metal sculpture at the League. She also co-founded The Artist Gardener NYC to activate green spaces in the local communities.
Natsuki has developed her interdisciplinary practice in diversity such as kinetic, intricate, mixed-media or metal sculpture, AI or video multimedia art, drawing, painting, art book, socially engaged art, public
art, and more. Her work is often inspired by her life experience and observation in Japan and as an immigrant in NYC, exploring the idea of our beliefs and lives, which she had questioned growing up in a
particular yet ordinary environment.
She has exhibited internationally and mainly in New York: recently at SPRING/BREAK Art Show, Japan Society, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, The City College of New York, LaGuardia Airport, NY, Seoul World
Art Expo, Korea, Kameyama Art Triennial, Japan, Oeno Gallery, Canada, and Venice Biennale, Italy.