Wil Natzel is a gay artist, creator, and graduate of the Cranbrook Academy of Art with a Master of Architecture, the cradle of American design. Straddling the line between art and architecture, his portfolio includes private commissions and public projects for Twin Cities Pride, SooVAC, and Gamut Gallery, spanning various cities including Minneapolis and Saint Paul. He serves as an Artist-in-Residence with Twin Cities Pride and has been awarded multiple grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board, Forecast, and Puffin Foundation for his architecture exploration devices. His work has been showcased in Wired, PBS MN Original, and various design platforms. Wil has contributed as a visiting architecture critic at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, University of Minnesota, and Iowa State University. Through his creations, he crafts new public art, environments, and abstract objects that challenge perception and reveal the relativity of individual experiences. His latest endeavors involve animated architecture exploration devices. He will participate in the Institute for Public Architecture's residency program on Governors Island in NYC, where he will advance the design and development of a pop-up queer-themed architecture installation as he works to bring it to fruition.
Wil's gay identity serves as a driving force for his artistic endeavors, compelling him to craft experiences that celebrate diversity and forge connections between communities. He is particularly fascinated by the exploration of human perception and how the interplay of color, sound, and light can profoundly influence people. By infusing elements inspired by the queer landscape, he aims to empower individuals and foster connections through transformative and inclusive artworks. His diverse body of work integrates new technologies to create interventions that resuscitate contemporary spaces and artifacts stripped of embellishment and meaning. Drawing from architectural sources, he explores the cultural frameworks and natural phenomena that shape us.
His artist centered practice has an open and inclusive approach to collaborating with institutions and other artists including the Perot Museum of Science and Nature, UCLA Gamelab, and Minnesota Children’s Museum. He has collaborated with architect Ania Jaworska for MoMA Ps1 and the Chicago Architecture Biennial.
