From Ulster County to Tokyo: 17-Year-Old Natalie Horberg Takes Her Art International

Natalie Horberg strives to connect the “surreal with the real” in many of her art pieces. Photo courtesy of Natalie Horberg , https://nataliehorberg.com

In 2019, teenage artist Natalie Horberg, had her first solo art exhibition at the Woodstock Art Association and Museum in the Hudson Valley. Just two years later at 17 years old, Horberg was invited to be part of a group show in Tokyo.

She was invited by none other than her artistic idol, Yoshitomo Nara, a prominent Japanese artist who has had his artwork housed in museums such as the MoMa and the Museum of Contemporary Art. Closing on May 15, this exhibit would be the first time Horberg would have her art displayed in a professional and international setting.

“For the most part every day, I am just sitting in my room looking at the countryside, so to have an opportunity like this come up and to actually see it come to fruition...I can’t even express the gratitude I have for Yoshitomo Nara in particular who invited me to be part of this.”

Growing up, Horberg was consistently encouraged to channel her creativity and not be afraid of expressing herself. Her father was a film producer as well as an illustrator, while her mom was a full-time artist in Los Angeles before the family moved to Mount Tremper, New York, where she works at an art center. “Growing up I never felt like it wasn’t an option for me, and it never felt like something that I really had to strive for...I already had role models that just happened to be my parents who are in that industry.”

Her artistic abilities began to flourish with her love for comics, something she always loved to draw and doodle, and as she grew older her passions for art progressed to film, painting, writing and creating 3D work. As stated on her website, Natalie Horberg uses a variety of these art types as means for “...connecting the surreal to the real, the solemn to the humorous and the strange to the endearing.” 

However, Horberg does not like to fully identify herself as an artist. “I have so many interests that include art and ones that are also outside of art, like movies, and philosophy...so I like to think of myself as more of a creator and a collaborator and I love working with other people and just telling stories and making unusual connections between things.”

However, being able to work with others was immediately halted when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Like for many artists, it was difficult to be stuck in isolation, with many losing their sources of creativity. Horberg was in fact able to figure out her inspiration for her artwork: people. “I am so inspired by watching how other people are and listening to other people talk and overhearing strangers tell stories...and just like being around other humans. I never realized until I was stuck in quarantine how important they were to what I do.”

Natalie Horberg’s artistic achievements do not stop at the Tokyo group art exhibit. Horberg had created a short film titled “October Pep,” which she scripted and edited over the course of three years, which was then accepted into the Calabasas Film Festival when she was only a junior in high school. “This is what inspired me to study film a bit in college, and I would love to make more films and even feature films.” 

Along with preparing to attend Wesleyan University in the fall where she plans to dabble in a variety of artistic courses, Horberg’s next long-term project and goal is to craft her own graphic novel, which will take her three years to finish. She plans to combine all her passions –– drawing, writing and illustrating –– into the graphic novel, which she then hopes to have published. 

“It’s kind of scary just because I don’t know anything about the publishing world, and I don’t really know what I am doing...so I am kind of going at my own pace and doing my thing.”

Not many 17-year-olds can say they have the opportunity to have an exhibit of their artwork, let alone one in a different country.  For Natalie Horberg, she continues to reflect on this regularly, and hopes other young artists will continue to follow their passions, in a world where some feel pressured to be unique. 

“I don’t really think being unique or trying to be different should be a goal. I think you should just try to be yourself and express what you have because anything that comes from your core and comes from your truth is inherently going to be different from everyone else’s.”