Natalie Petrosky (b.1989)
Sitting Under a Full Moon, 2015
Materials: Acrylic, oil bar, and found fabrics on panel
Dimensions: 53” x 69”
Location at Summa Health: Dr. Gary B. and Pamela S. Williams Tower on the Akron Campus (141 N. Forge St.), Blue Neighborhood, Second Floor Hallway, between patient rooms H2-314 and H2-315
About the Art
Natalie Petrosky’s Sitting Under a Full Moon presents a poignant and intimate exploration of the connections between womanhood, pregnancy, and the cycles of the natural world. The central shape in the painting, with its soft pale tone and strong black contour, evokes the image of a swollen belly — a form that has long been associated with both pregnancy and the moon, as women have historically connected the two since Paleolithic times. Petrosky’s abstract, mixed-media approach invites viewers to experience a contemporary reflection of this ancient relationship.
The piece expertly balances curved and rectilinear forms, offering a harmonious interplay of color and texture. Upon closer inspection, some sections reveal fabric elements, which contribute to a moiré effect, adding depth and tactile interest. The repeated curved forms, growing fuller with each concentric sweep, further emphasize the theme of growth and transformation, mirroring the physical experience of pregnancy. The forms are evocative rather than literal — leaving the full moon half-concealed, perhaps behind the belly, and inviting viewers to engage their imagination.
The title, Sitting Under a Full Moon, subtly guides the viewer to the intended meaning, with its playful yet profound connection to the physical and emotional experience of pregnancy. This deliberate choice of title reveals Petrosky’s desire to communicate the deeper layers of the work without overshadowing the viewer’s individual interpretation. The artwork creates a monumental feeling, one that resonates with anyone familiar with the weight and beauty of life’s cycles, both personal and universal.
This piece is especially fitting in its location outside the birthing tubs in Summa Health's new patient tower, where the themes of birth and renewal resonate deeply.
About the Artist
Akron-born Natalie Petrosky holds a B.F.A. in Glass from Kent State University and an M.F.A. in Painting and Drawing from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. She currently teaches at the Cleveland Institute of Art, Cuyahoga Community College, and Kent State University, while also maintaining an active studio practice.
Petrosky’s recent work integrates textiles as collage elements, a practice that connects to her upbringing in a home where her mother, a fiber artist, worked with a loom. These textile elements are carefully chosen to complement the color palette of each painting, adding subtle complexity and texture to the bold, abstract forms Petrosky is known for.
Where You Can See More of This Artist’s Work
Petrosky’s work has been featured in solo and group exhibitions across Akron, Knoxville, Cleveland, Toledo, Boston, Atlanta, and Washington, D.C. She is also preparing for an upcoming exhibition in Milwaukee. As a curator, she has organized innovative projects such as Black Ice (2018), which traveled to Reno, Nevada. This project explored site-specific, time-based works by local artists screened inside vehicles, creating “mobile galleries.”
Petrosky's work is also featured in publications, including I Like Your Work (2019) by Erika B. Hess and New American Paintings No. 135. For more information, visit her website to explore her ongoing studio practice and curatorial work.