In a summer thick with spectacle, Natalie Karpushenko chooses reverence. “Women of water, Women of Earth”, her first U.S. solo exhibition, now on view at The Untitled Space through July 17, 2026, gathers a luminous body of raw, AI-untreated photographs that treat nature as living extensions of the women themselves. Albeit on volcanic terrain in Indonesia, amid the coral reefs of Mexico, or atop surreal rock formations in South Africa—female figures are fantastically integrated within the fractal formations and sceneries to make a statement: statements on sacrifice, struggle, and inborn complexity. Across oceans, forests, and tidal edges, women emerge as living fractyllized appendages of the planet—tender yet tidal: tiny yet tremendous.
“I paint the places that don’t appear on any map — the spaces between who we were told to be and who we really are. I want the viewer to feel found in the work, even when the imagery feels unfamiliar.” — Natalie Karpushenko
Born in Kazakhstan and known internationally for her ethereal, in‑camera imagery, Karpushenko works exclusively in natural environments. An avid freediver and ocean conservation advocate, she builds images from breath and belonging rather than post-production alchemy. The result is work that feels mirage-like yet incontrovertibly real: skin salted by waves, hair braided with oceanic current, bodies nestled at ease from within elemental crevices. Karpushenko’s images transcend physical borders, inviting humans to reconnect with nature and to consider our adjacence (or lack thereof) to it.
“In the water, I learned to meet discomfort with presence. It became a space where I could feel safe again.”
These images are collaborations with weather, water clarity, with the patience required to wait for a migrating swell or a traveling cloud. Curated by Indira Cesarine, the exhibition itself moves like a tide chart: crescents of calm, surges of power, and the quiet pull of the moon somewhere just off frame. Indira asserts:
“Through breathtaking imagery that bridges the worlds of nature, humanity, and imagination, Karpushenko has developed a distinctive visual language that resonates across cultures. We are honored to present this important introduction to her work in the United States following years of international exhibitions, critical recognition, and artistic achievement.”
The artist utilizes juxtaposition to shock and awaken by situating soft, vulnerable female bodies among spikey, rugged cacti, or atop rough, rocky volcanic terrain. These same exposed fleshy figures are contorted within surreal rock formations to resemble embryos. The mythic undertones aren’t escapist—they’re instructive, reminding us that stories were first told to teach us how to live with tides, not against them. They honor risk and affinity, the unphotographable moments before and after each frame when breath merges with the wind while parting from a disappearing wave.
“Women of water, Women of Earth”: The Untitled Space, 45 Lispenard St, New York On view: June 25 – July 17
