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The Freeborn County Arts Initiative through the months of July and August will host a new exhibit, “Nude: A Study of the Human Figure,” by up-and-coming artist Macy Taylor, who is also the Arts Initiative’s intern and a lifelong Albert Lea resident.

Taylor said her father worked with the Arts Initiative program director, Elisha Marin, and Susanne Crane on a project in Mason City. While working with them, Taylor said her father recommended her for the internship.

“It’s cool because I’m from Albert Lea,” Taylor said. “I grew up here and I’m returning here to do something more with the art scene.”

Taylor, who will be a senior at Luther College this fall, made the exhibit pieces during a life drawing class she took in January. The exhibit consists of 12 graphite drawings, which will be displayed in the hallway of the Arts Initiative building at 224 S Broadway Ave.

Taylor studies sociology and history at Luther College, and said up until recently, she did not take her drawing very seriously.

“This class that I took in January was the first drawing class where I was drawing every single day, and I really enjoyed it,” she said. Taylor added she typically drew at least three hours every day. The class focused on drawing the way limbs are positioned naturally, how folds of the skin look and how muscles twist and turn.

“For this class, we really focused on refuting the notion that nudeness is inherently sexual,” Taylor said. “Because in drawing, when you start with drawing the figure nude, it really helps build onto your skills so when you do go to draw someone who is clothed, it looks a lot more realistic because you understand how the body looks under the clothes.”

Another learning curve for Taylor was drawing a live model that was present in the classroom instead of drawing from a photograph.

“When you … draw from life, you can really see it translates into the drawings and makes them much more realistic,” she said.

Taylor said she hopes people see her work, and it inspires them to contribute their creativity to the art scene in Albert Lea, whatever that may be.

Having her exhibit displayed at the same time as the “GAZE: A Study in Presence,” photography exhibit is awesome, she said. Because it is her first artist show, displaying her work alongside another show with famous photographers is a great experience, she said.

She added the two art collections also work well together, as most of the GAZE photographs are in black and white, and the same is true for her drawings.

An artist reception for Taylor will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Arts Initiative building. People can talk with Taylor about the exhibit, and refreshments will be served.

Taylor said she is excited to answer questions people may have about her art and talk more about the process she took in drawing the pieces.

She is also looking forward to seeing people enjoy physical pieces of her work rather than viewing her online portfolio.

“I’ve never had my drawings framed like this before,” Taylor said.

Taylor invited anyone interested to view her work on her online portfolio, macytaylor.art.