“When my mother and I visited for a tour of the university, I was impacted by the beauty of campus and the noticeable happiness of students. I got a feeling that this was where I was supposed to be.”
Fast Facts
- Loves the Leach: Attends weekly barre and Pilates classes
- Old-school: Takes notes in handwritten cursive
- Thrifting champion: Has a collection of preloved FSU apparel
- Favorite animals: Polar bears and cats
- Favorite FSU building: Dirac Library
Natalie Lusk is a standout Florida State University studio art undergraduate, whose sculptures confront consumer culture, question the definition of aesthetic beauty and spark conversations about critical issues.
She recently received an IDEA Grant for her project “On Iteration: Fabrication Arts and Plant Growth,” which combines hand-woven textiles with live plant materials.
Natalie’s work aims to educate others about the significant role of art in society and emphasizes the importance of sustainable practices in art creation. She explores a variety of mediums and collaborates with experts from different disciplines to achieve this goal.
In addition to her academic achievements, Natalie is dedicated to supporting her peers in the Department of Art. She serves as a Digital Art Fab Lab technician, where she assists students with advanced technologies such as 3D printing, laser cutting and other digital fabrication tools. Through this role, she helps foster a collaborative and innovative environment for aspiring artists.
Why did you choose to attend FSU?
I chose to attend FSU to become a part of its prestigious art program. I was excited about the opportunity to engage with faculty who create innovative research-based artwork. The Department of Art offers an amazing breadth of resources to students, including facilities for fabrication, gallery spaces to show work in and the opportunity to hold a personal studio as an undergraduate.
FSU’s strong Department of Art and academic reputation was what led me to apply, but when my mother and I visited for a tour of the university, I was impacted by the beauty of campus and the noticeable happiness of students. I got a feeling that this was where I was supposed to be. As soon as I received my acceptance, my decision was made.
What academic achievements are you most proud of?
The most significant part of my academic experience at FSU has been my combination of studying art with other disciplines. Courses in areas like astronomy, art history and English showed me how much I enjoyed studying. I realized that cultural and scientific knowledge can be the basis for deep inspiration in my art practice. I am especially proud of my commitment to each one of my classes, which has allowed me to maintain a 4.0 GPA.
I was awarded an IDEA Grant to create a project during the summer of 2024. Supervised by Professor Rob Duarte, my research focused on how the manipulation of materials can come to represent metaphysical questions about the nature of perception, the individual spirit, light and structure. The project culminated in two installations at the Carnaghi Arts Building and a research poster, which I presented at the President’s Showcase of Undergraduate Research Excellence.
How have you used your art education to serve others?
Working as a graphic designer for the Center for Leadership & Service and Sustainable Campus at FSU allowed me to use the aesthetic knowledge I have gained from my art study to communicate important initiatives to the community. Being a part of these teams also allowed me to do more than just design. Participating in team ideation sessions, tabling and generating ideas for how to increase campus reach were the most fulfilling aspects of these roles.
How has your research impacted the FSU community?
I have contributed to interdisciplinary collaboration at FSU by exhibiting my artwork and engaging in conversations about art’s potential to serve a purpose deeper than beauty. I hope that my engagement with undergraduate research at FSU has inspired other young researchers to explore creative methods of research and collaboration.
I strive to create artwork that becomes a site of knowledge production. My practice focuses on architectural materials, single-use materials, accumulation, waste, aesthetic beauty and how these aspects of our reality impact our actions. By showing my work, I hope to inspire others to engage with their surroundings and question the necessity of pervasive aspects of material culture more critically.