Living In Colour: Aje Insider Natasha Wright

Artist Natasha Wright, born in New Zealand and based in New York, lives her life in colour. The visionary sits down with the Aje Report to unpack her processes, explore her sources of inspiration and discuss how she channels her creativity through her personal style. 

Below, hear our conversation and see how she makes her selection of leading looks from the current season, Libertine, her own. 

Can you describe your visual language?

I create large-scale oil paintings. I’m interested in the dichotomy between beauty and the grotesque, seduction and aggression, the sweet and subversive. The figures in my paintings command the space they inhabit and hold attention. They are not naive to the history and male subjectivity they inherit. They claim their space to discover who they are on their terms.

Working on a dark ground, I use large flat brushes to create swaths of colour. My paintings are very physical and gestural. It’s important to me that the figures are either life-size or larger to convey that feeling of all-enveloping power.  

What does your dream studio look like?

I love making large-scale paintings, so my dream studio is a large, open-plan loft with high ceilings.  I tend to work on several pieces at once - I have one large wall for painting, and the other walls are usually covered with drawings and pieces that are drying. I prefer working in a studio that’s not too precious, somewhere I can be free and make a mess. I love working in Brooklyn - I feel both simultaneously immersed and removed from the craziness of the city. 

Can you tell us about your process? Do you have any routines or rituals to help tap into your creativity?  

I like to draw every day. Drawing is a pivotal part of my practice, and where most of my ideas start.  My goal is to place no hierarchy over a small drawing versus a large oil painting. I want the paintings to feel fresh and immediate. The drawings are all about the movement of the hand, while in the painting, I use my body to create the same type of energy. 

When I get to my studio, I often start by mixing paint – it helps me to think about colour relationships. I buy a lot of pigments and like to make my own oil paint. One of my favourite shops in New York is Kremer, which stocks all sorts of very specific colours you can’t buy by the tube.  

Consistency and routine are really important to me. I remember reading an interview with Susan Rothenberg where she talks about the importance of physically being in the studio almost every day, otherwise, nothing creative happens. 

Does clothing play a role in your creative expression?

Definitely, I think as a creative person, you can’t help but approach every aspect of your life through this lens. The way I dress (when I’m not in the studio) represents a lot of the ideas in my paintings. I like my outfits to feel strong but feminine. I love playing with juxtaposition, dressing in something that feels more delicate and soft, but pairing it with something utilitarian and bold. I love statement pieces that feel powerful. I never want my outfit to feel too much of one thing, it’s about finding the balance. I’m drawn to things that feel a bit beaten up and have a history. 

Does your relationship with colour and texture influence your style?

I think of colour as being very emotional. I can’t really explain it, but I know that I’m drawn to certain colour combinations. I use a lot of colour in my work, but I mostly wear black daily. I find it easy to wear and effortless. I’m a very tactile person, so I love playing with different textures and opacities of fabric. I find how light hits certain fabrics really interesting – it can change how we read the shape of a silhouette.

Where do you feel most inspired?

When I’m being fearless and I’m in a flow state, fully immersed in what I’m doing and unaware of the outside world.

Discover Natasha Wright: @natashawrightstudio