Welcome to Art Insider: By Nat

Hi Friends!

This past May, I graduated from Pepperdine University with my B.A. in Studio Art. My senior thesis exhibition, Rooted in Alchemy, was the culmination of years of study, reflection, and growth. It felt like my whole life wrapped into a series. Unfolding who I am as a person and how I’ve navigated my early adult years as a first-generation student. Creating that body of work was like watching a flower blossom, moving from the small spaces where I once painted into the vastness of large-scale canvases. To see them together in a museum setting was surreal and it left me hungry for more. You can read more about Rooted in Alchemy and explore some of the pieces in a recent Bloomberg feature.guides.bloombergconnects.org

After graduation, I traveled to Switzerland and spent two months at Château d’Hauteville, Pepperdine’s new campus overlooking Lac Léman. Each day was a balance of reflection and creation. I sketched en plein air along the lake, letting light, water, and atmosphere shape my lines, and visited museums that sparked new ideas. Those weeks felt like a personal residency-quiet, grounding, and inspiring. They gave me space to slow down, to notice, and to let new visions take root in my practice.

Now, I’m back in Miami, where I’ve moved into my first studio at Mercado. This space feels like a dream realized. A place to grow and to be surrounded by like-minded creatives. Having access to a ceramic studio next-door allows me to expand on my sculptural practice, opening doors to experiment with new materials and forms. It’s a big step forward in my life, and I still find myself pausing to take it all in.

Alongside painting and sculpture, I’m starting a monthly Print Club and newsletter, where subscribers will receive a print of my work and a handwritten note from me each month. It’s a way of sharing not just the finished image but also the thoughts and reflections behind it, bringing people a little closer into my world. I’ll also be hosting upcoming workshops, creating new opportunities for connection, learning, and community through art.

This season feels like a refresh, a chance to root myself in Miami while carrying forward all that I’ve learned from Pepperdine, from Switzerland, and from my journey so far. There’s a lot ahead, and I’m excited to share it with you. Thank you for being here and supporting me as I step into this new chapter.

For all updates follow me on instagram @Brushedbyvalencia

xx Natalie Valencia