I use the human form to reclaim shame, shifting beauty from rigid perfection to the raw, visceral truth shared, and developing psychology.
You decide who will appear in Artforum Magazine, take home $25,000, and display their work at The Art of Elysium's Salon!
Want to be notified if Natara Bjaranson changes in position?
Receive Text Updates
I create contemporary figurative paintings, sculptures, and prints that redefine beauty as a confrontational experience of vulnerability. Moving beyond rigid standards, my work focuses on the "honest body" through expressive form as social commentary. I employ raw lines, dramatic chiaroscuro, and distorted proportions to evoke emotional truth. Across these mediums, I transform the body from an idealized myth into a vital site of personal, social, and authentic truth.
Where do you find inspiration?I find inspiration in deconstructing womanhood and critiquing how gendered identities are marketed. My work explores the intersection of generational trauma and the pathology of human development, examining how consumerism reduces the female self to a commodity. I am driven by the vulnerability of the flesh and the healing in feminine growth. Using oil paint, layered pastels, and neon acrylics, I translate these constructs into art that prioritizes a life lived over a body perfected.
What would you do with $25,000?The People’s Artist Award of $25,000 will provide the vital stability I need to complete my graduate studies. These funds will cover tuition and housing, allowing me to bridge the gap between my education and financial constraints. With this support, I can fully commit to student teaching, my intensive art practice, and my role as a caregiver for a friend’s mother with dementia. This award ensures I can focus on my future as an educator while maintaining my dedication to my community.
Vote for Natara Bjaranson to become The People's Artist while supporting a great cause! Cast your free daily vote or make an even bigger impact when you vote by donation, supporting The Art of Elysium in their mission to use art as a catalyst to help people triumph over difficult life challenges.
Colossal is a nationally registered professional fundraiser that inspires people to advocate for themselves and those in need. Through online competitions like The People's Artist, Colossal offers participants the opportunity to make their mark while also making a big impact.
