Artist Statement: Love Notes is Natalie's tribute to Harlem's rhythm, roots, and radiant spirit. Covered in mountains, flowers, animals, musical notes, and hearts, this piano celebrates the legacy inspired by Harlem's African, Latin American, and Caribbean cultures — cultures that have shaped not only a neighborhood but a global sound. The sides and back honor the enduring legacy of jazz, with singers and instruments standing as guardians of a tradition born from resilience, improvisation, and joy. As Ruby Dee said, "Harlem is a language, a rhythm and symphony, and a state of mind." This piano carries that rhythm forward — dancers moving across the back above the words Love What You Do, a reminder that creative expression is both liberation and love in action. The front of the piano opens into mountains, tropical landscapes, flowers, and wildlife — a nod to our homelands and to Mother Nature's embrace. Nature, like music, restores us. It invites us to listen more closely, to breathe more deeply, and to remember who we are. Connecting with nature is connecting with our most divine selves. Through Love Notes, I hope to inspire people to spend more time outside creating, dancing, and moving in community. This piano serves as encouragement for others to lean into whatever creative outlet resonates in their soul — whether that's dancing, singing, painting, or playing an instrument. May it remind us to visit our parks, listen to nature's songs, and embrace the music within ourselves and each other.
Natalie Romero is a Colombian-Honduran visual artist and educator based in East Harlem with Houston roots. Natalie began hosting educational and creative workshops in 2017 as a means for community organizing, which fostered her love for the arts. Upon receiving a degree in Global Development and Sociology from the University of Virginia (UVA), she joined the Freeman Artist Residency post-graduation where she further developed her artistic practice. This experience provided valuable hands-on skills such as screenprinting and canvas creation, as well as opportunities to showcase her work at Visible Records, and curate an exhibition at UVA's Special Collections Library. As someone who's passionate about uniting people via artistic expression, she believes sharing creativity lays the foundation for stronger communities. You can find Natalie leading mixed medium workshops in the city as part of her Studio Venceremos Artist Collective. Her work will also be featured in the upcoming exhibition "Rooted", curated by Ruthy Valdez in partnership with the West Harlem Arts and The Kota Alliance on May 7th to June 9th, 2026.
