Bio:

Natalie Eslami (she/her) is an Iranian-American interdisciplinary fine artist and scenic designer for stage and screen. Originally from Memphis and Los Angeles, she is currently based in Pittsburgh to complete her final year of the BFA Scenic Design program at Carnegie Mellon Drama. Seeking a worldly and multifaceted arts education, Natalie has enjoyed additional courses in Architecture, Art History, Global Anthropology & Museum Studies, and Studio Art, and has integrated this knowledge into her design process. She also works as a scenic painter and freelance fine artist (and dreams of illustrating a children’s book someday). 

Prior to pursuing her BFA in Drama, Natalie was classically trained in the visual arts for seven years. She closely observes the intricate and diverse details of the world around her and strives to reflect them in her storytelling. Natalie is especially interested in arts accessibility/education and collaborative work. She is passionate about projects tackling relevant social issues, complex identities, and the Middle-Eastern experience.

Previous design credits include COSÌ FAN TUTTE , GODSPELL (ASD), GIULIO CESARE (ASD), and the academic premiere of A HIT DOG WILL HOLLER at CMU. She also spearheaded scenery fabrication for the world premiere of USHUAIA BLUE (Scenic Artist) at the Contemporary American Theater Festival in 2022. Natalie is excited to pursue freelance design and assistant work in New York City after graduating in May. Her work can be viewed at www.neslamidesign.com. 

Natalie is a big fan of urban sketching, breakfast foods, HGTV, and her tabby cat, Fletcher.

Upcoming Projects: 

GODSPELL — Assistant Scenic Design, Carnegie Mellon University, March 2023

LITTLE WOMEN- The Broadway Musical — Scenic Design, Bristol Valley Theater, July 2023