Meet Natalie Espino | Wire Sculptor, Artist, Poet

We had the good fortune of connecting with Natalie Espino and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Natalie, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Risk taking has been a terrifying part of my journey as an artist/small business owner. But, even more than that, it’s been crucial. I would not have had the success that I’ve had without taking them. Knowing that you have to put your all into the thing you’re chasing lights a bit of a fire under your ass! If I’m going to make it, I am the one who decides whether or not it happens.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a self-taught artist! Pretty much entirely.

I think wire is a pretty unique medium to work with, so I’d say that the material alone sets me apart from most artists. I began wire sculpting in 2020 and experimented making earrings (like everyone else stuck at home). I liked the creative freedom that came along with the spool of wire and that anyone could wear my earrings and walk around showing my work off immediately if they wanted. It took a while to really develop a relationship with the material but I almost find it easier than drawing with a pen/pencil nowadays.

Being committed to growing, failing, learning, and trusting the journey is, in simple terms, how I got here. Determination (and maybe even hard-headedness) is how I’ve found success through each challenge. I just don’t fucking quit.

What I want the world to know is that no artist’s success rides on talent or birthright, it’s all work and drive and trial and error and each artist you know has been through the trenches to put their soul into their work and display it for the world to see.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
My favorite spots in Denver:

OMF (Our Mutual Friend) Brewery my favorite brewery
Lucky Noodles for the most amazing Thai food, I wont shut up about this place.
Migas Coffee for the best coffee in RINO
Washington Park on a sunny day
Denver Botanic Gardens for a calm and lowkey hang
Death & Co. for sexy nighttime drinks
Clifford Still Museum for the building’s architecture, not the art (side eye)
Mercury Cafe for Sunday night Slam Poetry
TRVE Brewery for …more beer hahaha and also fried chicken!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
So. Many. People… I’ll go with a top 2.

1. My family has been INSANE in their support of my work. They encouraged me to quit my day job in 2021 to pursue art more fully, so that’s played a massive impact on my freedom to create. They’re consistently showing up for me and helping me out wherever they can. I am so f’n grateful.

2. My friends and art community!! I’ve found some of the most wonderful connections over the last few years through groups like Denver Queer Art Club, Art from Ashes, and just meeting people at markets/events. Everyone wants everyone to win.

Website: https://almadearte.shop

Instagram: @alma_dearte_