Artist Bio

Natasha Dikareva was born and raised in Kiev, Ukraine, and studied in St. Petersburg, Russia during the hey-day of Soviet Power. Soviet Realism permeated the teachings in every major art institution, and the narrow standard of this “state-approved art” compelled her to develop a personal, symbolic language. She eventually immigrated to Minnesota in 1995, and continued her ceramics studies at various studios in the state. After receiving her MFA from the University of Minnesota, Dikareva expanded her vision to embrace her heritage as an Eastern European artist. A microcosmic universe continues to flourish within Dikareva’s present-day San Francisco art studio.

Dikareva is known for her surreal, exquisitely formed human figures. They often morph and blend into other biological forms, such as birds, fish and trees. Dikareva’s latest works developed during and intensively introspective period, and revolve around the concept of physical security. They also reflect a concern with a litany of current world events, and an imagined biological response to the harsh impacts of industrialization, war and disease. The viewer sees how new life spring from “human shells” that survive a collapsed world. The shell series in particular is an invented sanctuary for of optimism and security, something to protect us from the adverse effects of an industrialized planet.

Resume

NATASHA DIKAREVA

(415) 503-8659

http://www.dikarevart.com natasha@dikarevart.com

SOLO/TWO PERSON EXHIBITIONS

2017 “Sea Calling,” SMAart Gallery, San Francisco, CA

“Zone In,” Oregon’s Finest Gallery, Portland, OR

2016 “Enter & Escape,” Abrams Claghorn Gallery, Albany, CA

“Doulbe-Take,” Clay by the Bay, San Francisco, CA

2015 “Downtown Atlantis,” Inclusions Gallery, San Francisco, CA

2012 “Power of Secrets,” 1000 Van Ness Gallery, San Francisco, CA

2011 “In the Garden of Forked Paths,” Fabric8 Gallery, San Francisco, CA

2009 “Sculptural Habitat,” Porto Franco Art Parlor, San Francisco, CA

“Age of Aquarius,” Workspace Gallery, San Francisco, CA

2007 “Take-Off,” Workspace Gallery, San Francisco, CA

2006 “Floating Riddles of Time,” a. Muse Gallery, San Francisco, CA

“Encrypted Happening,” Workspace Gallery, San Francisco, CA

2005

“Babylonian Underground,” AZ Gallery, Saint Paul, MN

“Inside Eternity,” ArTrujillo Gallery, Minneapolis, MN

2004

“Searching for Beginnings,” Augsburg College, Minneapolis, MN

2003

“Awaiting Answers,” Saint Paul Academy, St.Paul, MN

“One Desire for Three,” Bloomington Art Center, Bloomington, MN

2002

“Mythomorphoses,” Phipps Centre for the Arts, Hudson, WI

2000

“Flights in Dreams and Reality,” Unity Church, St. Paul, MN

1999

MC Gallery, Minneapolis, MN

1997

“Enigma and Revelation,” Kraine Fine Arts, Saint Paul, MN

1996

“Head for Great Ideas,” Hommage Gallery, Amsterdam, Netherlands

1995

“Game with Time,” Gonchary Gallery, Kiev, Ukraine,

and Status-Crosna Gallery, Moscow, Russia

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2018

“Three Generations Moving Beyond Boundaries,” Abrams Claghorn Gallery, Albany, CA

“Deconstructing the Conversation,” Morgan Contemporary Glass Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA

“Farenheit 2018,” American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona, CA

“Generous Kingdom II,” Verum Ultimum Gallery, Portland, OR

2017

“Craft Rebels,” Abrams Claghorn Gallery, Albany, CA

“Tiny Show,” Pence Gallery, Davis, CA

“Retrospective 10,” Inclusions Gallery, San Francisco, CA

“SOFA,” Maria Kravetz Gallery, Chicago, IL

“Call Me What You Want,” Abrams Claghorn Gallery, Albany, CA

“4th Clay & Glass Biennial Competition,” Brea Artery, Brea, CA

“International Sculpture Day Exhibition,” Marin Society of Artists, San Rafael, CA

“California Clay Competition,” The Artery, Davis, CA

“Illuminate,” Inclusions Gallery, San Francisco, CA

“Teapots! 11th invitational exhibition,” Morgan Contemporary Glass Gallery, Pittsburg, PA

2016

“A.I.R. Vallauris,” Galerie Aqui Siam Ben, Vallauris, France

“Bancroft Sculpture Exhibit,” The Ruth Bancroft Garden, Walnut Creek, CA

“TeaTime,” Pence Gallery, Davis, CA

“21st San Angelo National Ceramic Competition,” San Angelo, TX

“Teapots! 10th invitational exhibition,” Morgan Contemporary Glass Gallery, Pittsburg, PA

“Equality,” Ohio Craft Museum, Columbus, OH

“3 Realms: Land, Sea & Sky,” SMAART Gallery, San Francisco, CA

2015

“Bancroft Sculpture Exhibit,” The Ruth Bancroft Garden, Walnut Creek, CA

“Holiday Showcase” Abrams Claghorn Gallery, Albany, CA

“Retrospective,” Inclusions Gallery, San Francisco, CA

“Energizing the Issues with Clay,” Folk Art Center, Asheville, NC

“Clay: tell-tale signs of connected(ness),” SMAART Gallery, San Francisco, CA

2015

“Sphinx,” three person show, Carmen Castellano Fine Arts Gallery, San Jose, CA

“California Clay Competition,” The Artery, Davis, CA

“Cupid’s Arrow National Exhibition,” Santa Fe, NM

“Dynamic Narratives,” Folk Art Center, Ashville, NV

“Bark,” Natsoulas Gallery, Davis, CA

2014

“Clay: A Chancy Act of Prolonged Engagement,” SMAART Gallery, San Francisco, CA

“Bancroft Sculpture Exhibit,” The Ruth Bancroft Garden, Walnut Creek, CA

“Dynamic Narratives,” N.A.W.A. Gallery, New York, NY

“Big Fish; Small Teapot,” American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona, CA

“8 from ACGA,” Davis Art Center, Davis, CA

“30 Sculptors,” John Natsoulas Gallery, Davis, CA

“California Clay Competition,” The Artery, Davis, CA

“The Figure – A Bay Area Legacy,” Gary Francis Fine Art, Alameda, CA

“Submerged,” three person exhibition, SMAart Gallery, San Francisco, CA

“Bark,” Natsoulas Gallery, Davis, CA

“In Full Bloom,” Baltimore Clayworks, MD

2013

Ceramics Annual of America, Civic Center Plaza, San Francisco, CA

“Ink and Clay #39,” Kellog University Art Gallery, Pomona, CA

“Bark,” Natsoulas Gallery, Davis, CA

“Bancroft Sculpture Exhibit,” The Ruth Bancroft Garden, Walnut Creek, CA

“Deep in the Shed / A Studio Sojourn,” SMAART Gallery, San Francisco, CA

“Feats of Clay,” Blue Line Gallery, Roseville, CA

“Future Culture,” Asterisk Gallery, San Francisco, CA

“Plates and Totems,” Blue Line Gallery, Roseville, CA

“30 Cearmic Sculptors,” Natsoulas Gallery, Davis, CA

“California Clay Competition,” The Artery, Davis, CA

“Dynamic Narratives,” Winter Street Studios, Houston, TX

“Peaceable Kingdom: Animals Real and Imagined,” Bedford Gallery, Walnut Creek, CA

AGCA National Clay & Glass Exhibition, Brea Art Gallery, Brea, CA

2012

“Shanghai Art Fair 2012,” Shanghai, China

Ceramics Annual of America, Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA

“Deja View,” SMAART Gallery, San Francisco, CA

“Teapot Redefined,” Mobilia Gallery, Cambridge, MA

“Big Fish; Small Teapot,” American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona, CA

“30 Ceramic Sculptors,” Natsoulas Gallery, Davis, CA

“Elements,” ArtWorksDowntown, San Rafael, CA

“Bark,” Natsoulas Gallery, Davis, CA

“California Clay Competition,” Artery, Davis, CA

“CreativiTea,” ACCI Gallery, Berkeley, CA

“Good Company, Great Clay & Glass in California, 1932-2012,” Petaluma Art Center

2011

“To Go,” Mendocino Art Center, Mendocino, CA

Ceramics Annual of America, Fort Mason, San Francisco, CA

The Order & The New Surrealism, Modern Eden Gallery, San Francisco, CA

California Clay Competition, Artery, Davis, CA

ACGA@MAH, Museum of Art and History, Santa Cruz, CA

“Mud/Marriage & Magic,” Market Street Gallery, San Francisco, CA

2010

“Reliquaries,” Modern Eden Gallery, San Francisco, CA

“Narrative Visions: Clay onto Art,” Market Street Gallery, San Francisco, CA

3rd Biennial Concordia Continental Ceramics Competition, Concordia Univ., St.Paul, MN

2009

“Out of Fire,” Falkirk Cultural Center, San Rafael, CA

“Dia de los Muertos,” ArtWorks Downtown, San Rafael, CA

“Small Works,” John Natsoulas Gallery, Davis, CA

“Two Person Show,” Pamela Skinner/Gwenna Howard, Sacramento, CA

“California Clay Competition,” John Natsoulas Gallery, Davis, CA

“Bancroft Sculpture Exhibit,” The Ruth Bancroft Garden, Walnut Creek, CA

2008

“Bay Reflections,” California Modern Art Gallery, San Francisco, CA

“What Goes Around,” ARTworkSF Gallery, San Francisco, CA

2007

“East Meets West,” ArtWorkSF Gallery, San Francisco, CA

Russian Art Exhibition, Canvasations, San Francisco, CA

“Life is beautiful,” La Vita e Bella, San Francisco, CA

“Nocturnal Visions”, ArtWorkSF Gallery, San Francisco, CA

“Transformations,” Polarity Post production Gallery, San Francisco, CA

“Fired, Forged and Fabricated,” ArtWorkSF Gallery, San Francisco, CA

Opening show, Union Gallery, San Francisco, CA

2006

“Relic,” ArtWorkSF Gallery, San Francisco, CA

“Larkin St. Youth Services’ fundraiser,” Four Galleries, San Francisco, CA

“Pleasure Zone,” SomArts Gallery, San Francisco, CA

“Lost in Translation,” ArtWorkSF Gallery, San Francisco, CA

2005

“Faith in Women,” Intermedia Art Center, Minneapolis, MN

“H2O@AZ,” AZ Gallery, St.Paul, MN

2004

“Common Thread,” Minneapolis Mosaic, Minneapolis, MN

Upper Midwest Juried Sculpture Show, Minnetonka Art Center, MN

MFA Exhibitions, Katherine E. Nash Gallery, Minneapolis, MN

“College Bowl,” Northern Clay Center, Minneapolis, MN

2003

“Common Treasures,” Mykonos Municipal Gallery, Mykonos, Greece

“Minnesota Clay,” Rochester Arts Center, Rochester, MN

“Fringe Visual Exhibition”,Thom Berry Gallery, Minneapolis, MN

2001

Graduate Student Exhibition, Katherine Nash Gallery, Minneapolis, MN

Opening Show, L’Attitude Gallery, Boston, MA

“Icebreaker,” Di Stilo Gallery, Minneapolis, MN

Opening Show, Joan of Art Gallery, Minneapolis, MN

2000

Group Show, L’Attitude Gallery, Anna Maria, FL

“Flesh,” College of Visual Arts, St. Paul, MN

“Fairy Tales”, Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, IL

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

2018 “Fantastical Creatures,” ceramic workshop, San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

2009 Art Instructor, Congregation Emanu-El, San Francisco, CA

2007-present Teaching Workshops “Adventures in Clay,” San Francisco, CA

2004-2005 Instructor in Drawing, Graphic Design, and Art History

Academy College, Bloomington, MN

2002-2004 Instructor in Beginning Drawing, U of MN, Minneapolis, MN

2001-2002 Teaching Assistant in Beginning

and Intermediate Ceramics, U of MN, Minneapolis, MN

2000 Instructor in Fine Arts, American Indian OIC School, Minneapolis, MN

1999 Instructor in Drawing and Sculpture, MCTC, Minneapolis, MN

1998-1999 Instructor in Clay, Visual Arts, Jewish Middle School, Saint Paul, MN

Instructor in Clay, Drawing and Painting, Edina Art Center, MN

AWARDS

2017 Best in Show, “4th Clay & Glass Biennial Competition,” Brea Gallery, Brea, CA

2016 Finalist, “Niche Award,” Washington, DC

2015 People’s Choice Award, 2015 California Clay Competition, Davis, CA

2014 Honorable Mention, “Big Fish: Small Teapot,” AMOCA, Pomona, CA

2012 Grand Prize, “Big Fish: Small Teapot,” American Museum of Ceramic Art, Pomona, CA

Finalist, “Niche Award,” Philadelphia, PA

2011 Third place, “To Go,” Mendocino Art Center, Mendocino, CA

2009 The Leslie Ceramics Award, 2009 California Clay Competition, Davis, CA

2004 Honorable mention, Minnesota State Fair, Minneapolis, MN

Joel and Aja Ceramics Scholarship Award, U of MN, Minneapolis, MN

2003 Graduate Research Partnership Scholarship Award,

University of MN, Minneapolis, MN

2002 Brown-MacKenzie Arts Scholarship, U of MN, Minneapolis, MN

1999 Second honor, Minnesota State Fair, Saint Paul, MN

EDUCATION

2004 MFA, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN

1990 Bachelor of Fine Arts with Highest Honors,

Kiev Fine Arts College, Fine Arts and Graphic Design, Kiev, Ukraine