Natalia Pilato is a visual and community-based artist, educator, and scholar who elevates civic engagement and sparks public discourse. Her large scale national and international community-based mural projects have engaged thousands of intergenerational community members in the creative process. From Marionettes to tiny vessels, her studio practice is a multimedia exploration that celebrates joy and questions the nature of how we explore relationships.

Natalia Pilato holds a Ph.D. in Art Education from the Pennsylvania State University. She has received numerous awards of recognition, which include: the Virginia Art Education Association higher educator of the year, and the Christo Collaboration Award (community partnerships) from Virginia Beach Public Schools, The Joy of Giving Something Award, Imagining America Scholarship, The Bunton Waller Graduate Fellowship, the Creative Achievement Award from the P.S.U College of Arts and Architecture, the Ingrid P. Holtzman Award, Alumni Honors Award, the American Association of University Women Outstanding Achievement Award, the Business and Professional Women Opportunity Grant.

Currently Dr. Pilato lives in Norfolk, VA. and is an Assistant professor of Art Education and the Director of the Art Education Program at Old Dominion University.