Natalija Walbridge has been making an impact locally with her art. Twice in two years, Walbridge's fabric art has won the People's Choice Award at the Duluth Art Institute's Annual Members Show. Now, the State Fair is calling.
"My pieces, from a distance, might look like a painting, but when you get up close, you're able to see that each little piece of color, little shadows, are all individual pieces of fabric," says Walbridge. "It's a beautiful way to create wildlife images and still use all the skills that come naturally to me."
Not only will Walbridge have recent work displayed in the Fine Arts building at the 2026 Minnesota State Fair, but she's also been asked to be one of only twelve artists to demonstrate her process over a 12-hour period in front of fairgoers. The Studio: HERE component of the fair highlights one artist each day to give viewers a better idea of the work and time that goes into creating art. "They actually section off a little corner of the gallery right there in the Fine Arts building," says Walbridge who will be working on a new piece throughout the day on August 28th. "They really want [the artists] to be as if we we're working in our home studios."
To learn more about Natalija and her work, find her on social media or visit her website. Details about Natalija's Studio: Here demonstration can be found on the Minnesota State Fair website.
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