AWARDS

2020 Award for Innovation in Teaching from Miami International University

WORK EXPERIENCE

2007-current: Natalya Kochak Design Studio, Owner (www.natalyakochakdesign.com). We create original designs for murals and do decorative painting and faux finishes for residential and commercial spaces. We specialize in restoration as well, and I frequently employ art students from Florida International University. My company is also working on a line of high-end art wallpaper named Paper POP that will use designs by artists, with proceeds shared with the artists. We travel all over the U.S. to meet our customers’ needs. My clients and projects have included Los Altos nightclub, the private home of the drummer for Aerosmith, and homes transformed into chateaus or contemporary designed spaces. 

2019-present: Miami International University of Art and Design, Adjunct Professor, Drawing/Painting Department. Foundation Drawing, Figure Drawing, etc. 

2018-2019: Project Art, Miami, FL, Teaching Artist for the Model City Library branch. I taught two classes to children 6 to 7 years old and one class to teenagers 13 to 17 through Bridge Miami, a children’s shelter. 

2005-current: I teach art to students privately, spanning from age 6 to adult.

2005: Oxbow, I was a teaching assistant for a watercolor course as part of the college program during the summer of 2004. 

ARTIST RESIDENCIES

2022

November: Oolite Art Center Home and Away Residency at the Atlantic Center for the Arts in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Invited to attend this week-long residency, fully funded with a stipend.

2021

August-September: Jentel Artist Residency, Banner, Wyoming. Fully funded with stipend. Invited for a month-long retreat to create and introduce the work to the local community.

2019

October: DNA Artist Residency, Provincetown, Massachusetts, A residency sponsored by Freight and Volume Gallery located in Manhattan, New York.

September 2018-June 2019: ProjectArt Miami, Miami, Florida. I was invited through a juried process to be an artist-in-residence for the Model City Library branch in the Liberty City neighborhood. The year of teaching culminated in a group show at The North Miami Contemporary Art Museum.

2018 

March: Lido Art Center, Guangzhou, China. I was awarded the artist residency at the center, where I worked with students in the college community, giving them critiques and helping them with their applications to masters programs in the United States and Europe. I also gave five lectures and did a solo show. 

April: Hambidge Art Center, Rabun, Georgia, USA. I was awarded a large house/ studio space in the Smokey Mountains to separate myself from society and work on my projects. . September 2018-June 2019: Project Art Miami, Miami, FL, I was an artist-in-residence for the library system, specifically the Model City Library branch for the upcoming year. A year of teaching will culminate in a group show at The North Miami Contemporary Art Museum 

September: Hemera Foundation Grant (Applegate Jesuit Center), Applegate, California. I was awarded a fellowship to attend a weekend meditation retreat, meant to expand artists’ minds and give them time away from the art world.

2011

September-January: Takt Kunstprojektraum, Berlin, Germany. During this three-month residency, I worked on a project specific to Berlin and participated in open studios.

January: Delta Art Center, Masaka, Uganda. I taught art to children in Uganda, Africa, I also spent time working on my current art project and traveled to experience Ugandan life. I was received a Kickstarter grant for $3,000 to complete this project.

2010

October: Red Gate Gallery, Beijing, China. I participated in the Beijing art scene and showed my work in the open studios.

SPECIAL PROJECTS

2020

December: Raw Project, Miami, Florida. This is a nonprofit that places artists in underserved schools to create art on their walls. Its purpose is to encourage children to want to be in the school and participate in their classroom activities.

SOLO SHOWS

2024

June: Sage Community Arts, Sheridan, Wyoming (upcoming)

2023

June: Sydney & Byrne Art Center, Ft. Meyers, Florida - My Family Anti- Autobiography (Upcoming)

2018

March: Lido Art Center, Guangzhou, China - We Are Not a Coming People We Are Here 

2011 

September-January: Kunstraum Tapir, Berlin, Germany - Of Man

2010 

August: Pump Project, Austin, Texas - The Family of Man

October: Red Gate Gallery, Beijing, China. I participated in the Beijing art scene and showed my work in the studio and gallery.

GROUP SHOWS

2023

January-March: Edgezones Art Projects, Miami, Florida (upcoming)

2022

August-October: The Frank Contemporary Art Center, Pembroke Pines, Florida. Solo exhibition in their Frank Isles section.

2019 

February-May: Colorado Mountain College, Aspen, Colorado. Mutual Makers group exhibition.

May: Museum of Contemporary Art, North Miami, Florida. Group exhibit with ProjectArt alumni. 

November-January (2020): Eso Es, Bridge Red, Miami, Florida. A group show curated by William Cordova.

December: ArtAfrica, Miami, Florida.. An exhibit during Art Basel Miami Beach.

2018 

July: MFA Thesis Exhibition, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois. Exhibition curated by Kate Pollasch. 

August-September: What’s Your Elephant, 1310 Gallery at the Sailboat Bend Artist Lofts, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Exhibition curated by Niki Lopez. 

2017 

July: Throop Gallery, Chicago, Illinois. Group exhibition of The School of the Art Institute 2018 graduating class.

October-December: Truth and Reconciliation, Little Haiti Art Center, Miami, Florida. Exhibit curated by Marie Vickles. 

2016 

January: Art Palm Beach Fair, Alessandro Berni Gallery (galleries in Italy and New York), West Palm Beach, Florida. Curated group exhibition. 

February-March: Macaya Gallery, Gold, Miami, Florida. Group show of five Miami artists.

March: Home and Design Show, Miami Beach Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida. Given a booth to expose my artwork to the design side,

2015 

May: Seafair, Miami, Florida. Private group show curated by Noor Blazekovic of Irreversible Magazine.

May-August: Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition, Brooklyn, New York. Juried show.

July: Art Monaco Art Fair, Monaco. Exhibiting with Irreversible Projects.

September: Brisky Art Gallery, Miami, Florida. Semi-finalist for the Bombay Sapphire Artisan Challenge.

October: Cafina Wynwood, Miami, Florida. Curated group exhibit. 

November: Boca Basel, A private exhibition of five artists for Boca Raton Magazine.

2014 

November-January (2015): Bridge Red Gallery, Miami, Florida. Curated group show. 

December: Scope Art Fair, Untitled Projects, from LA, Miami, Florida. Curated group exhibition. Spectrum Art Fair, Miami, Florida. Irreversible Projects curated group exhibition.

GRANTS

2020
Miami Dade Artists Support Grant, $500.00

EDUCATION

2016-2018: The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Master of Fine Arts. 

August 2001-June 2005: The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Bachelor of Fine Arts, Merit Scholarship Recipient