Bulletin Board Posting in VAC The Xavierite
The Beverly Arts Center is hosting an exhibition by Nat Soti, an art and design lecturer at Saint Xavier University, titled “All These Words Are.” It explores the intersection of art and graphic design through visual communication and open-ended meaning.
The exhibit brings together digital prints, mixed media, painting, drawing, collage, video, and motion graphics, using graphic symbols without fixed definitions to invite viewers to interpret and create meaning for the work themselves.
“‘All These Words Are’ is about pausing before certainty,” Soti said, adding, “We need to find the space to sit with, reflect, and think on things.” He emphasized the importance of dialogue, saying, “Let’s have conversations where we are trying to figure out things together rather than win arguments.”
Soti also noted how there’s a lot of pressure today “to always have strong opinions or hot takes,” while his work instead focuses on how meaning and expression emerge through use, composition, and context.
Soti’s work is inspired by science fiction, comics, anime, and fantasy, as well as the detailed, large-scale murals found in Buddhist temples.
“They work on this epic storytelling, mythic scale that has a beauty when you take it in as one whole piece, but then you can zoom in to find all these parts of the pieces that have all these different things going on,” he explained.
Several of the pieces featured are among the largest Soti has created. Reflecting on the process, he stated that one of the biggest challenges was figuring out how to fill “a room the size of the gallery at the Beverly Arts Center,” adding that the space, “especially the long wall,” gave him the opportunity to “work big” and to discover that he enjoys working on a larger scale.
“All These WORLDS Are…” by Nat Soti The Xaveirite
A recurring figure throughout Soti’s art is a “Spaceman” character, which he describes as personal. “It’s the first time since childhood that I’ve let myself indulge in my love of comic books and science fiction in my artwork,” Soti explained.
Nat’s spaceman character, center. The Xavierite
“I’ve come to associate that character with that ‘explorer of the unknown’ or ‘explorer of the imagination’ part of me.”
The exhibition marks Soti’s first solo art show in more than ten years.
Prior to teaching at Saint Xavier University (SXU), much of his creative work came from commissioned projects through his video production and design business, Zero One Projects, describing how returning to personal art after years of client-driven work was a “big difference.”
Soti said this new work involved “making work that is somewhat of a mystery to even me as the maker,” as he explored ideas and symbols without a firm meaning.
Teaching has been a major influence on this body of work. Soti teaches ART 116: Computer Graphics at SXU, teaching students from all majors how to use Adobe Illustrator and apply visual communication skills.
Exploring the full range of the software in the classroom led him to experiment with tools he rarely used professionally, and those discoveries became central to several pieces in the exhibition. “Because I taught it, I’ve found ways to apply it to my art, and it’s actually some of my favorite parts of this new work,” said Soti.
Soti explained that his experience as a practicing artist helps him relate to the challenges his students face. By sharing his own work and remaining open to critique, he puts himself “in the same boat” as his students, creating a stronger connection between them as fellow artists.
“Being in touch with the experience of having to learn new things myself or continue to grow and develop as an artist helps me better connect with the learning experience that my students are also going through,” he said.
Part of the reason he created his Instagram account, @professorsoti, is to share what he is working on or art that inspires him, even if it is not part of a formal show.
Soti hopes viewers engage with the work beyond its visual appearance. “Does it elicit questions? Does it make you think about stuff?” he said. “If so, let’s talk about it.”
“All These Words Are” is open now at the Beverly Arts Center, 2407 W. 111th St., Chicago. The exhibition reception was postponed due to extreme winter weather and has been rescheduled for Feb. 7 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. The exhibit will remain on view from Jan. 23 to Feb. 22.
Bulletin Board Posting in VAC The Xavierite
**Correction: Cover photo added to article 2/3**
**Correction: “Several of the pieces featured are among the largest Soti has created. Reflecting on the process, he stated that one of the biggest challenges was figuring out how to fill “a room the size of the gallery at the Beverly Arts Center,” adding that the space, “especially the long wall,” gave him the opportunity to “work big” and to discover that he enjoys working on a larger scale.” added 2/6; photos added to article 2/6**