Nath Raye

Nath's inspiration soars on the hot, dry winds sweeping over the southwestern borderlands. The Sonora and Chihuahua desert are where she loves to wander; either on her Harley or on foot, dusty from her boots to floppy hat, pulling and pushing her trusty red wagon down into arroyos and up over rocks. The desert is where Nath finds the sun baked cactus carcasses, roots and plant debris she transforms into art.

Hours, weeks, months go into reclaiming these finds, scrubbing and scouring embedded sand, dirt, gravel, peeling off thorns and bark, hollowing and smoothing cavities, carefully picking crusted bark out of whirls, curves and crevasses, carefully separating razor thin cactus fibers. Nath then hand smooths each cactus or root piece, with dozens of treatment coats to harden the fibers to a silky sheen.

Sometimes it takes years, but each cactus or root piece reveals itself in time, evincing a feeling and form to be created. Nath creates each piece from the cactus and root carcasses and plant debris she found in the desert and reclaimed with hours of sweat and tears, augmented with additional natural products and art finishes.

No matter where where you find her, Nath lives in a desert state of mind; it’s where you can fi...

Nath is an emerging self taught artist alongside her vocation as an Adjunct Professor teaching Government, Political Science and Emergency Management. Recently, due to spinal injuries causing lasting neurological loss of use in her arms and legs, Nath turned to hiking in the desert and creating art as physical therapy. Creating art has saved her from losing her mind, as well!

Nath lives the 'it's all about politics' motto, with her art heavily influenced by politics. An Adjunct Professor at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico, Nath has studied at Florida State University as a doctoral student for Public Administration and Public Policy, and at the University of New Mexico as a doctoral student in Political Science.

Nath holds a Graduate Certificate in Emergency Management and Homeland Security from Florida State University, a Masters of Arts degree in Government from New Mexico State University, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, along with a Certificate of Women Studies from Oregon State University. Nath is a prior Certified Insurance Counselor with the Society of Certified Insurance Counselors, and a member of both Pi Alpha Alpha and Golden Key International Honor Societies.

You can find Nath’s current sculptures and studio at NathRayeStudio.art. Please feel free to contact Nath anytime at nath@nathrayestudio.art as she always welcomes inquiries about her art. She would be happy to give you a virtual look at any piece you are interest in, or to discuss commissions.

Exhibitions: TBA