Nataša Ondrejková

Artist Statement

Basing my work around my Slavic heritage and cultural roots, family lineage, identity and faith, my work often explores the most personal aspects of who I am. It’s a reflection of my soul. Focusing on raw and gritty, emotional and honest displays of my conceptual practice in art has led me to the exploration of many mediums- I wouldn’t have it any other way- it allows for a development of my own practice and experimentation with process. My love for art started when I first held a pencil in my hand as a child; that love isn’t going anywhere.

Family Lineage, 2025

With this artwork, Family Lineage, I wanted to explore my personal ties with my family and cultural and traditional roots through using my great uncle's photograph, who was an artist and photographer himself. I used folk lace and tissue paper that I had hand cut to communicate the notion of culture being interconnected with my being. Through the use of layering, draping with parts containing diffused paint to showcase the split from my roots, and having the elements overlap, I created a sense of depth and importance to the piece. Family Lineage isn’t simply just about me, it is about my familial and cultural origins, and those who came before me

Dinnertable Conversations, 2025

Dinnertable Conversations is an interactive installation where I invite the audience to share the unspoken words they wish they said. Below is the invitation I extent to those who write in:

I want to invite the audience to interact with the Dinnertable Conversations installation. I find myself biting my tongue at wine conversations with family as the oldest immigrant daughter, trying to ignore the unspoken, unmentioned tension. I have left cards, some with prompts, some without for you to leave your thoughts on. This can be in the form of words, or in the form or sketches.