SimpleVida was established in November 2022 as an alternative, unpredictable, conceptually non-traditional contemporary art gallery and teaching studio. It exhibited the work of its artist/curator and was a place that involved teaching and supporting student artists.
Natacha Sochat is the artist/curator/gallerist of SimpleVida. For the past 35 years Natacha has been wildDreamer Studio, adding Simple Vida in 2022 as an additional business site.
In 2010 Natacha and a fellow MFA in studio art graduate (Kathy Halamka) established NKG Gallery for other artists in Boston Massachusetts. This experience gave Natacha the roots to establish a teaching gallery in the Triangle area of NC using a different approach than a conventional art gallery.
SimpleVida was only open to the public via appointment due to private teaching in the gallery.
Art is an experience that has to be enjoyed in person. All the mediated art we see online, or in a magazine generally are not the same when seen in person.
About Natacha Sochat – artist/curator
Natacha’s practice uses life experiences (seeing, touching, smelling, hearing, feeling, and thinking) for ideas to create visual works. This practice helps her to be intuitive while constructing an object. Natacha believes that the ‘actual experience is the work of art’ and has gained enough mastery that she allows for chaos to be a part of her creative process. She creates in her studio, but the memory of the actual experience and her psychological response are incorporated into the work. There are ideas that use other venues – books that she reads, movies she watches, music that she experiences, foods, and textiles she loves. Natacha’s experiences concerning social situations in the contemporary world, as well as the experience of others in society are important to her work.
the Hand is the Mind
Materials Natacha uses are fabric, yarn, oil paint, acrylic paint, inks, pencils, charcoal, ceramics, wood, metals, and found objects.
Natacha was born in New York City and grew up in Manhattan and the South Bronx. She was the first to be educated in her family. Her love of science and art simultaneously has resulted in her commitment to a lifelong involvement with creating and supporting the arts.
BA Biology Boston University College of Arts and Sciences (minor Art History)
Diploma Brandeis University Graduate School Arts and Sciences
Diploma School of the Museum Fine Arts Boston
MFA studio art Tufts University/School of the Museum Fine Arts Boston
MD Boston University School of Medicine
Link to Natacha Sochat work archives:
natacha.net
natachasochat.com