Natalie Dunham
About the Create! Magazine 10th Anniversary Book: Create! Magazine is honored to celebrate a decade of contemporary art by publishing a look back at previously selected artists: their achievements, career growth, and more since being published. Stay tuned for the book launch in fall 2026, and join our newsletter to stay up to date.
Natalie Dunham, featured in both Create! Magazine and the Create! Magazine 10th Anniversary Book, earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Birmingham-Southern College in Birmingham, Alabama, in 2007, and her Master of Fine Arts degree from the Maryland Institute College of Art in Baltimore, Maryland, in 2010.
Her artistic practice is centered on developing comprehensive three-dimensional material studies and sketches, emphasizing a deep engagement with basic geometric shapes and lines through the method of accumulation. Each of her studies is assigned a numerical title, serving as a narrative device that documents her artistic progression over time. This systematic titling preserves the integrity of her explorations, creating a layered record of her creative journey that invites viewers to engage more profoundly with her work and gain insight into the nuanced decision-making behind each piece.
Dunham’s artwork has been showcased in galleries, museums, and art fairs worldwide and has been acquired by hotels, hospitals, restaurants, corporate offices, convention centers, and the US Embassy. Her artwork has been featured in international books, magazines, and blogs, and she has received various awards and grants, including the Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant.
Dunham currently resides and maintains her studio practice in the United States, with an additional workspace in Europe.
Studio Practice
Dunham is a process-based artist creating 3-dimensional material studies/sketches primarily composed of basic geometric shapes and lines through accumulation. Each study is assigned a numerical title that documents the process and materials used. Her hope is to challenge viewers to pause and appreciate the transformative powers of the creative process and to call attention to the essentially ordinary origins of even the most extraordinary works of art.
Background + Inspiration
Growing up in Lancaster, PA, down the street from Amish farms, she quickly fell in love with honest craftsmanship and the textures and lines of the gridded landscape. Her studio practice has become an active representation of her perspective on life and living. She believes that true craftsmanship is marked by fundamental principles such as dedication, passion, and an exceptional attention to detail—and that these principles are constantly threatened by the pace and complexity of modern life. Her work is an attempt to integrate and celebrate these principles.
nataliedunham.com
