Nacida en la frontera, hija del desierto. Mi dualidad en las ciudades hermanas de El Paso, TX, y Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, México.

Nathaly (Na-ta-lie) Lerma is a Mexican-American artist from the border cities of Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, MX, and El Paso, TX. She moved to Washington State in 2019 after graduating from New Mexico State University in 2018. She obtained a BA in Biology and became and NIH-MARC fellow for two years, which allowed her to pursue her studies while gaining research experience in the life sciences.

While in college, she also pursued art classes to sharpen her skills where she was under the mentorship of her uncle and renown Mexican artist Carlos Estrada-Vega, as well as Julia Hitchcock. Under Hitchcock's teaching, she developed a passion for charcoal and figurative drawing, as well as an appreciation for the inclusion of fine arts in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) and using art as a tool for activism.

Mostly a self-taught artist, she is finding her artistic style and voice by utilizing various mediums. In 2023, she opened her art studio, Flor de Cactus Studio. Since then, she has produced works for the award winning podcast, "The Lost Women of Science," the Highline Heritage Museum, and the non-profit organization Intentionalist. Her portfolio also includes children's book illustrations and mural projects for local business in Seattle, WA.

A lifelong learner, she is currently working on a professional certificate at the University of California at San Diego on "Art and the Creative Process," and a specialization in "Teaching with Art: Using Inquiry, Activities, and Themes Specialization" by the world renown Museum of Modern Art. Her future goals include obtaining a PhD in Psychology/Neuroscience to become a speaker and educator in the emerging field of neuroaesthetics. She seeks to use her art to elevate her culture, advocate for her community, and diversify the fine arts.