Natasha Poppe is one of those people who said she was “going to" be an artist since childhood.  Early arts exposure was from the amazing neighborhood of Prospect Park in Minneapolis, especially the talented and driven Loyce Houlton.  Natasha’s  undergraduate degree in Studio Art from Lawrence University in Wisconsin also included a minor in East Asian Studies.  The formalistic style of 70s teaching directed her toward Graphic Design, but thoughts about advertising cigarettes to children, or promoting Wal-Mart,  helped re-direct her into art education.  Her second degree was in Art Education from the University of Minnesota, then while teaching she earned an M.A., and worked toward a PhD.

Years of teaching art, advocating for the arts, and making art have enriched her perspective in each role.  After many years of painting as her major focus, Natasha returned to Ceramics in 2002.  She has taken numerous classes and participated in many firings at the Northern Clay Center and appreciates the excellent quality and variety of instruction there. Recently she has been trying out other available soda kilns at Edina Art Center with Sandra Shaugnessy, and Minnetonka Art Center with Ernest Miller.

Although throwing was her only choice in her earlier years, she believes that teaching younger children made her a much better ceramist.  Sitting home with a broken leg, she tried hand-building with porcelain. Classes from Margaret Bowles polished her techniques and inspired her to push the possibilities further.

Natasha now works largely in her home studio in Saint Paul, has built a raku/saggar kiln, and is hoping to build a soda kiln "before I get too old to load it."