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Natasha Tupper (Greenwade)

As an artist and educator with more than fifteen years of experience working across ceramics, painting, sculpture, scenic design, my work has culminated in both production and community-based arts education. My practice is rooted in material process, spatial thinking, and collaboration, often moving between studio work and applied, large-scale environments. I currently serve as Scene Shop Supervisor and Set Designer for Concordia University’s Theatre Arts program. I am seeking graduate study to deepen my studio practice and clarify the through-lines between my sculptural work, painting, and interdisciplinary production, with the long-term goal of teaching at the collegiate level and developing socially engaged arts programs.

  • Body Art, Ceramics and Sculptural Practice, Painting and Mixed Media, Set and Scenic Design, Theatre Production and Fabrication, Installation and Spatial Design, Studio and Lab Instruction, Curriculum and Program Development, Community-Based Art Education, Interdisciplinary Collaboration

  • May 2026: Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art, Ceramic Sculpture Emphasis, University of Nebraska- Lincoln. Minor in Psychology

  • 2022- Present: Scene Shop Supervisor & Set Designer, Theatre Arts Program, Concordia University | Seward, NE

    I supervise and teach undergraduate students completing required lab hours in the scene shop, with an emphasis on safety, material awareness, and collaborative problem-solving. My role combines instruction with active production work, guiding students through the design and construction of full scenic environments while helping them translate conceptual ideas into physical form.

    Selected Theatre Productions (Concordia University)

    • Alice in Wonderland — Fall 2024

    • Whodunnit — Spring 2025

    • Percy Jackson: The Lightning Thief — Fall 2025

    Set Designer and Lead Fabricator; supervised scene shop production crews

    Founder & Director

    2022–Present: The Collective 101 | Louisville, NE

    I founded and continue to operate a rural community arts collective that offers instruction in ceramics, oil painting, digital design, woodshop practices, theatre-adjacent fabrication, and tattoo artistry. My work here centers on teaching process, material confidence, and creative autonomy to students of varied ages and experience levels, while also managing studio operations and public programming.

  • 2008-Present: Licensed Tattoo Artist & Body Art Practitioner | United States

    Maintain an active studio practice focused on custom, one-of-a-kind body art developed through close collaboration with clients. Specialize in black and grey, color, and large-scale compositional work, including full and partial sleeves, approaching tattooing as a drawing and painting practice situated on the human body. Designs are developed through consultation, sketching, revision, and execution, often across multiple sessions, requiring precision, adaptability, and sustained visual problem-solving. Participate in regional and national body art exhibitions and conventions, and have received multiple first-place awards, including categories for small, medium, and large black and grey, best leg sleeve, and small color tattoos.

    2018–2024: Co-Founder, Co-Owner & Artistic Director: Madness Haunted Farm | Council Bluffs, IA

    I began as Lead Makeup and Special Effects Artist and later became a co-owner as the project expanded into a multi-attraction haunted farm. As Artistic Director, I shaped the overall visual language of the site, designing and fabricating large-scale indoor and outdoor environments across multiple buildings. This work blended sculptural construction, theatrical storytelling, and immersive spatial design, and required close coordination with performers, builders, and production crews during both build phases and live operation.

  • 2017–2018: Studio Assistant, Jess Benjamin Studio | Benson, Ne

    I assisted with ceramic production, glaze testing, and studio preparation while supporting workshops and demonstrations with students and visiting artists. I also helped manage installation logistics and gallery operations for exhibitions.

    Institutional & Correctional Experience

    2002–2008, 2019–2020: Nebraska Department of Correctional Services; Texas Department of Criminal Justice

    Developed and submitted a proposal for an Arts in Prisons Program exploring creative education as a tool for rehabilitation and reentry, prior to pandemic-related shutdowns. These experiences shaped my understanding of space, authority, and community, and continue to inform my interest in socially engaged, institutionally situated art and large-scale collaborative environments.

  • I have completed numerous public and private mural projects across Nebraska and Iowa (2019–2026), and have shown work in regional exhibitions including:

    • Owning It, Love Library, University of Nebraska–Lincoln (2015)

    • Sola, Seven Seas Gallery (2018)

    • Ashland Community Art Showcase, First Place, Professional Category (2025)

    • Art in Unexpected Places: A Showcase of Women Artists in Nebraska, College of Saint Mary (2025)

    Ongoing | Living Tattoo Works (Various Locations – National & International)

    Custom tattoo works worn by private clients, visible in public spaces as evolving, body-based exhibitions. Includes award-winning pieces exhibited at juried tattoo conventions. Functioning as both site-specific installations and long-term collaborations with individuals.

  • Item descriptionLicensed Professional Tattoo Artist, Nebraska DHHS (Exp. 2027)

    Founder and President, The Collective 101 (2022)

    Board Member, Ashland Nebraska Arts Council (2024)

    Association of Professional Tattooers (2024)