Natasha Beste
Adjunct Faculty
Bachelor of Arts in Media Arts and Communication, Wayne State University (2000-2005)
Internationally recognized multi-media artist Natasha Beste is best known for her innovative video and audio experimentation. She uses narrative and documentary styles to create complex mixed media video art and her installations are symbolic environments that often incorporate hand-drawn animated video. Her works focus on the ideas revolving around the body, mind, and trauma. Her goal is for audiences to experience something that is emotionally charging and provocative, evoking ideas relating to themselves, hoping this will spark dialogue about these personal topics.
Professional Experience
Natasha Beste is a video director, installation artist, animator, performer, and educator whose work has been showcased at the Ann Arbor Film Festival, Media City Film Festival, MOCAD, Detroit Institute of Arts, and the University of Michigan Penny W. Stamps School of Art & Design. Since 2006, Beste has taught media arts at Wayne State University, Marygrove College, Y-Arts at the Boll Family YMCA, and Ladybug Studios. Since 2010, she’s been co-director of Gold House Media and has been commissioned by Kresge Arts in Detroit and Cranbrook Art Museum. She currently teaches at the College for Creative Studies in the Film and Entertainment Arts departments and at Living Arts teaching youth stop-motion and hand-drawn animation. She is a 2022 Gilda Award winner for her interdisciplinary art, produces music and sings under the title Odd Hours, co-owns a 3D-printed jewelry and apparel brand called Hell Money Warriors, and has one book published.
Significant Publications, Presentations and Exhibitions
Select Video Art Screenings and Exhibitions:
2024
BINGO, “Independent Film Festival Ypsilanti,” Ypsilanti, MI
KAID Artist Videos, “Spotlight Detroit,” Detroit PBS
KAID Artist Videos, “Freep Film Festival,” Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit, MI
2023
Sentient, “Berlin International Art Film Festival,” Berlin, DE
Sentient, “Venice Shorts,” Los Angeles, CA
Sentient, Noir Leather, Royal Oak, MI
Times a God Zillion, “DIFFUSION 2023,” Toronto, Canada
2022
KAID Artist Videos, “Spotlight Detroit,” Detroit PBS
Times a God Zillion, “Film Diary NYC 2.0,” Brooklyn, NY
Times a God Zillion, “Media City Film Festival,” Windsor, ON
Making A Universe, “MAU: Tunde Olaniran Exhibit,” Cranbrook Museum, Bloomfield Hills, MI
BINGO, “Bingo Premiere,” Play House, Detroit, MI
2021
Times a God Zillion, “Arizona Underground Film Festival,” Tucson, AZ
Times a God Zillion, “Ann Arbor Film Festival,” Ann Arbor, MI
2019
Never Silent. Never Still., “Freep Film Festival,” Detroit, MI
Business is Pleasure, Haute to Death Boss & Secretary Night, Detroit, MI
Mom’s House: Free, Studio 8700, Oak Park, MI
Alter Mom Altar, Studio 8700, Oak Park, MI
Anti-Shrine, “DAMNED Exhibition,” The Tangent Gallery, Detroit, MI
Anti-Shrine, “Faculty Now!” Valade Family Gallery, Detroit MI
2017
Anti-Shrine, “The No Show,” The Schvitz, Detroit, MI
KYBM, “Ann Arbor Film Festival,” Ann Arbor, MI
Tambululu, “Fundraiser for Freedom House,” Light Box, Detroit, MI
2016
Search History, “Spectral Slumber,” Assemble Sound, Detroit, MI
Sun Goes Rising, Our/Detroit, Detroit, MI
2015
Blueprint for a Weekend Binge, North End Studios, Detroit, MI
Full Moon Parasites, “Media City Film Festival,” Windsor, ON
Cyclicity, “Dwelling Lightheartedly In The Futility Of Everything
Multimedia Performance,” MOCAD, Detroit, MI
Burning Desire, Doug Podell’s Rock900 w/ The Ghoul, Comcast channel 900
Healing Crystal, Front Store Gallery, Ferndale, MI
2014
Full Moon Parasites, “Infrared Ultrasound,” Detroit Contemporary, Detroit, MI
Mom’s House, “The Deep End,” Whitdel Arts, Detroit, MI
2013
Maybe You Can Feel Even Better, “Trinity,” work • detroit, Detroit, MI
Neural Projections, “Bring Your Own Beamer,” North End Studios, Detroit, MI
Maybe You Can Feel Even Better, “Axis Mundi,’”North End Studios, Detroit, MI
Voyeur Portals, Corktown Studies, Detroit, MI
www.natashabeste.com