About The Artist | Natalie Plasencia

Giving voice to the mysterious strength of the human soul has always guided Natalie Plasencia's vision. It has been a keen interest that inspires her sculptures. Working with the arts, civil rights, children and families has been her passion. 

Growing up, as a Cuban American in Hialeah she immersed herself in her father's architecture/construction sites, her mother's work with women and children, sewing with her grandmothers, painting for her spiritual advisor, before officially studying sculpture in the university. While studying fine arts, Plasencia concentrated on exploring the delicate nature of the human soul as the subject matter and sewing, plaster, mold making, metalwork, and wax as the mediums. 

Although she would later earn a graduate degree in social work, Plasencia continued to incorporate art into her work with the oppressed both as a social worker and an artist. She often blends the elemental power of the spiritual into several materials such as wax, plaster, metals, and fabrics.

Plasencia later studied the expressive art therapies in Boston, designed costumes for the Harvard department of Dance, and worked for many years as a clinical social worked with women and children victims of domestic violence, SED children in foster care, psychiatric hospitals, and boys in the juvenile justice system,

Maintaining studios in Miami and Islamorada, She finds herself repeatedly inspired to create. She equates the handling of wax and bronze in her sculptures to reverent homage to the divinity and dignity of her subjects. “To work with metals is one of the most glorious experiences.”

AFFILIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS

Art and Sculpture Unlimited Inc. | Archdiocese of Miami | Reefchoice Rockworks | JLH Architect | Palmer Trinity School |Oppenheim Architecture

Fiber Artists Miami Association Member| Florida Keys Council of the Arts Member | Textile Study Group of New York Member