Natacha Merritt

Artist at natachamerritt.art

Natacha Merritt is a multifaceted artist, photographer, writer, and biologist born in 1977 in San Francisco.2 3 She gained international recognition at the age of 20 for her groundbreaking work in digital photography, particularly her intimate and explicit self-portraits and portraits documenting her sexual history.2

Career Highlights

Photography and Publishing:: Merritt's first book, "Digital Diaries," published by Taschen in 2000, was a critical and commercial success.2 3 It was notably the first digital photography book ever published.3 Her work has been featured in various publications, including The Observer, Playboy, The Wall Street Journal, and Rolling Stone.2

Artistic Endeavors::

In 2003-2004, Merritt collaborated with Cirque du Soleil as one of the creators for their show "Zumanity," creating large-scale multimedia projections.2 3
She wrote an "insect circus" in 2008, which was later licensed to Cirque du Soleil and became the show "OVO".2
Her 2012 book "Sexual Selection" combined her artistic practice with scientific insights, exploring sexuality across human, plant, and insect worlds.2

Recent Projects:: Merritt has been engaged in humanitarian work in Ukraine since February 2022, leading Operation PinkBus.1 This initiative has delivered over $400,000 worth of aid to Ukrainians.1 She's currently working on a documentary film and TV series called "The Givers".1

Education and Expertise

Merritt returned to higher education to study evolutionary biology, combining her passion for art with scientific understanding.3 She has also ventured into virtual reality content development since 2014.3

Professional Roles

Founder and leader of Operation PinkBus1
Creative director for live fetish arts performances2
Founder of Permission® productions and Rides®2
Director of VR at Westsummit Capital, a Silicon Valley venture fund4

Natacha Merritt's work has been described as groundbreaking in self-portraiture, redefining the boundaries of artistic photography.3 Her diverse career spans photography, biology, humanitarian work, and virtual reality development, showcasing her versatility as an artist and innovator.