For Southern Highlands–based artist Natalie Will, art is more than a creative pursuit – it’s a way of connecting people through stories. Working across acrylic and watercolour painting, collage, mixed media and even sculptural forms, Natalie embraces both the playful and the political in her practice. Her works invite audiences to reflect, laugh, question and sometimes even sit in discomfort – all in the name of dialogue and connection.

“Sometimes I want people to be angry and identify with the injustice depicted. Sometimes I want them to feel nostalgic or reminded of a place and time where they could feel themselves in a similar landscape. Sometimes I want people to laugh and enjoy the satire in my mixed media work.” Natalie explains.
“I hope that my art is received as something to talk about in whatever scope that may be.” 

Three Pathways of Practice

Currently, Natalie’s studio is alive with three distinct but interwoven streams of work.

The first is contemporary landscape painting, where she experiments with colour and line to capture familiar Australian scenes. These works – such as The Valley and Lake George – offer room for personal connection, inviting viewers to project their own stories and memories onto the canvas.

The second stream is her mixed-media collage, where she cuts, layers, and re-assembles found imagery into surreal and often satirical works. Pieces like Flying Goldfish and Sigmund’s Psyche reveal Natalie’s wit and sharp commentary, using absurd juxtapositions to reflect on the world around us.

Finally, Natalie’s third focus delves into gender and social issues. This body of work asks profound questions about inequality, empowerment and the spaces where gendered experiences intersect with history, religion and cultural storytelling.

The Paper Flower Project

At the heart of Natalie’s current explorations is The Paper Flower Project, a large-scale installation that transforms anonymous stories into a living garden of blossoms. In this work, daisies symbolise non-binary people, roses symbolise women and sunflowers represent men. The health of each flower reflects the stories shared. Visitors will eventually be able to walk through this immersive garden, pause on park benches, and read anonymous messages projected onto the walls – a collective reflection on identity, power and belonging.

“I am running free workshops where I show  people how to make paper flowers” Natalie says.
“Attendees can choose to leave an anonymous message that will be turned into a flower for the major work.”

A Balance of Yin and Yang

Though her socially driven works are emotionally demanding, Natalie finds balance in her landscapes. “Landscape painting is the yin to my yang,” she reflects. “Contemporary landscapes are a way for me to let go and be free to explore and play.”

Her canvases brim with vibrant blues, purples and golds – from rolling mountain ranges to storm-swept fields – each infused with her distinctive, rhythmic brushwork. Works such as Yuin Giants and Killcare Remedy showcase how light, colour and texture can transform a scene into a vessel for memory.

Inspiration and Upcoming Projects

Natalie’s inspiration comes from many sources: the way sunlight touches the land, ancient myths reshaped through a feminist lens, current events that marginalise communities, or even an odd statue found in an op-shop. “Sometimes I find an image in a discarded book or magazine or an ugly statue at an op shop and my mind just clicks and I am inspired to create from there,” she says.

Looking ahead, Natalie is preparing for a busy year. The Paper Flower Project will embark on its first tour in April through STA’s Lightbox Gallery, travelling across the Southern Tablelands with workshops in tow. She will also be exhibiting at the Canberra Art Fair this September, while her works can currently be viewed at Dirty Janes in Canberra.

More Than Art

Through her landscapes, collages and socially engaged projects, Natalie Will continues to push boundaries while offering space for connection. Whether prompting reflection on gender and power, sparking laughter through satire, or evoking memories of familiar places, her work invites audiences into a conversation that is as diverse and layered as her artistic practice.