Ever since I was born, I saw the world in color; having synesthesia, which is a neurological condition that causes me to see and experience words in color, art was always a very natural and cathartic pursuit for me. My path to where I am now has been unconventional, but it is in its unique development that I have become the artist I am today. I am Indian by heritage, and growing up, I was always surrounded by intricate beadwork on sculptures and clothing- combined with the synesthesia, my memories have always been tactile and vibrant, and this is also how I am inspired to create my art. my Indian heritage has and continues to play a profound role in my development as an artist, and in informing the choices I make stylistically. My Grandmother, Pati, may not have ever had art adorning walls in galleries, but is someone who would create art every day; I was often surrounded by masterpieces created using nothing but coffee powder, and observing how Pati created beauty from the peels of vegetable remains; she instilled in me both a sense for how to see the world as more extraordinary in the artistic potential of each and every thing around me, no matter how seemingly ordinary, and a fascination with possibilities of the unconventional and unique.
Feeling deeply called to explore embroidery and beadwork because of my childhood, and being drawn to the ornate elements and textures of textiles, I began my creative career in fashion, showing collections in 2018 at New York and Paris Fashion week, winning awards (an International Design Award), headlining panels and collaborating with brands including Tommy Hilfiger by age 20. When I got the chance to go abroad and study at Central Saint Martins in London for fashion (where I also focused on creating work based off of my synesthesia and Indian heritage), I soon discovered the art-focused fashion print, and realized making the artwork first, which had the potential to be translated into other purposes or stand alone, was what I loved most, and I knew that Fine Art was my true direction and passion- truly the place of happiness I was missing. From the whirlwind of the runway I transitioned to refining my skills, and focused entirely on my art. Although unconventional, through the incredible twists and turns my journey had taken at that point, I truly believe I accumulated a wealth of inspiration and self-knowledge that allowed me to develop into the artist I am meant to be, and I continue to look for ways I can elevate my style and techniques. While in an intensive art program beginning early 2021, my teacher spotted that my skills were developing at a rate much quicker than the norm, and that I was able to develop works very rapidly; as I have ADHD, it was brought to my attention the possibility that I could be a “2E” individual: a twice exceptional person in being gifted while also having an impairment like ADHD. After an evaluation, it was determined that I am, in fact a gifted adult who would have been considered prodigious in childhood. This was further confirmation for me of my path and true belonging in painting,
Through my experiences in fashion, I gained insights, skills and knowledge on how to do beadwork and embroidery, and my Indian heritage continued to shine through as I transitioned more fully into art. I aim to bridge gaps between mediums and incorporate those ornate and traditionally fiber elements in my traditional artwork as well, which allows me to create personally authentic, textural fine art experiences. I often like to explore ways to bring my vision of the world (I see the world in vast colors and often ‘inaccurately” in that grass can appear gold and animals glisten hues of reds non-existent to most eyes) and experiment with hand-making pigments from things around me, mixing spices or dirt with linseed oil— pulling colors from the world and how I see things in full color and often rely on writing and creating poetry to make sense of my perspectives, which accompany works I make. Through traditional mediums, I can let my expressive, colorful and intuitive color use be free (and generally gravitate towards impressionism and expressionism styles), and afterwards, I choose to enhance the pieces with embroidered details, including beadwork, or add in nods to my heritage through gold-leaf or by incorporating traditional patterns found in India, from Mehndi (Henna) patterns to details found on iconic temples or culturally significant colors.
I truly feel feel that making art is a spiritual experience, and often experience strong impressions of vivid imagery- often in part due to my synesthesia- which serve as initial sources of inspiration for my art. I also often draw inspiration from my own life, depicting themes both personal for myself and for the viewer. I believe painting is the way through which I am best able to explore my personal history, and interests. My art is reflective of my personal life story, and I hope to continue creating works that push boundaries between mediums, and that serve as caveats through which my spirit can shine. I hope to use my art to contribute to charities, especially throughout India, and continue evolving in my style and voice while cultivating knowledge in different fields of interest to me, which I also use to inform my art (I am currently studying psychology at Harvard University, and I have found supplementing my art with disparate subjects and knowledge has truly opened more possibilities and ideas for future collections and pieces).
