Biography

For as long as I can remember, I have been drawn to art, music, and folk art. Creating art has always transported me into another world.

I pursued my passion by earning a bachelor’s degree from Agra University in India, where I majored in Drawing and Painting and studied the sitar, a traditional Indian instrument.

After getting married and raising a family, my priorities shifted. For many years, caring for my children took precedence, and my artistic interests took a back seat. Once my children completed their education and left for college, I returned to school to pursue my own artistic goals.

In 1980, I began studying at California State University, Fullerton, where I earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts. A professor in my life-drawing class encouraged me to develop the Indian influences in my artwork. He also recognized my potential and told me that, if I continued at my current pace, I could become a very good artist. His words were especially meaningful because they affirmed what I had already been telling myself: I wanted to become a serious and accomplished artist.

My commitment to the arts extends beyond my studio practice. I wanted to teach art, so I transferred to the University of California, Irvine, to pursue a Master of Fine Arts. When I was accepted, I received a fellowship for my artwork as well as a teaching assistantship. After completing my MFA, I was offered a teaching position at UC Irvine in 1989.

Since 1990, I have continued to teach art at Riverside Community College while pursuing my own artistic career. I also contribute to the broader arts community by judging exhibitions, presenting lectures, and conducting demonstrations and workshops.

For more than 44 years, I have developed a body of work that bridges tradition and modernity and has been extensively exhibited worldwide. Selected exhibitions include the Fourth Cosmopolitan Exhibition during the 1988 Olympics in Seoul, South Korea; Amsterdam Whitney Gallery in Chelsea, New York (2013–2015 and 2026); India Art Festival (2014); Worldwide Art International Show in Los Angeles (2014); Art Expo New York (2014–2018); Spectrum Art Show in Miami (2014–2017); Asiamania! in Seoul (2015); Top 60 Master Shows (2017–2022); Praxis Remix International Show at the Las Vegas Museum (2019); and a solo exhibition at Grimandi Gallery in New York (2019).

Additional solo exhibitions have been held at the Riverside Art Museum, Lancaster Art Museum, and Southern Nevada Art Museum in Las Vegas. Recent exhibitions include shows at HMVC Gallery NY and Amsterdam Whitney Gallery in New York. My work is held in private collections by art enthusiasts and collectors around the world.

I have been honored to receive several prestigious awards, including the UCI Regional Fellowship Award (1986) and the Bharat Gaurav Award (2015). In 2023, my biography was featured in Marquis Who’s Who in America.

Artist Statement

I have been interested in art since my childhood in Aligarh, India. I began creating art as a young girl, making rangoli (Indian floor art). Growing up I always had a deep fascination for colors, especially those occurring in nature.

My work, which is inspired greatly by nature has matured to reflect my collective life experiences, social issues, life and death. My art reflects my dual heritage, bringing together Eastern symbolism and Western compositional traditions. Influenced by the intricate visual languages of 16th- and 17th-century Rajasthani and Mughal art, I often incorporate poetry and script in Hindi, Sanskrit, and English as expressive elements within my paintings.

Inspired by artists such as Georgia O’Keeffe and Frida Kahlo, I explore the relationship between nature, spirituality, identity, and contemporary social concerns. My work addresses issues including environmental change, racial equality, women’s rights, and the universal human need for love, dignity, and respect. Through vivid color, layered symbolism, and narrative imagery, I seek to create paintings that are both visually compelling and emotionally resonant.

I use all mediums: Charcoal, Pen & Ink, Pastel, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Oil, Gouache, Watercolor, and Graphite. If I desire detailed work, I use watercolor or Gouache. If I want to have very bold and bright colors I would utilize oil and acrylic. I cannot choose one I love the most, I adore all of the mediums for their own special characteristics. I feel very lucky I can utilize all of the mediums to an exceptional degree.

When I am executing my paintings I am able to express my ideals in each painting further. I make abstract, floral, symbolic, and landscape paintings. In my paintings you will see a lot of layers, and intricate designs. Specifically in my abstracts, I use layers and layers of colors, and transparency.

In my floral paintings I use mediums that show velvety softness and extreme detail. In my symbolic paintings I try to tell a story, and help the viewer empathize with the emotions I feel.

In my landscape paintings I use whatever medium I feel fits well with each scene I am trying to make. Sometimes the subject matter comes first when I create, sometimes it doesn’t.

There are times when I do an abstract painting and I have an idea of what I will do. Other times I start painting and go on a journey, but I do not know where the destination lies. The only thing I always do is pick a color palette before starting a painting. I like to make sure all of the colors resonate with one another. I either choose harmonious colors, opposing colors, or mono colors.

A lot of times, you can see my feelings in the colors I choose. When I use very strong fiery colors of red or orange, you can see love or anger in my paintings. Grey or black is used to express sadness. Pink is for prosperity. Green is for growth. Yellow is utilized for brightness, and uplifting. Blue is very spiritual and peaceful. White is for purity. All of my colors hold meaning and emotions. They are not chosen randomly, but each color corresponds to a feeling.

My favorite part of painting is being in the moment, the journey of the painting. At what destination will I end up? It is always unknown, but excites me very much. Another exciting aspect of making artwork is being hypnotized by my creation. I forget about physical pain, emotional pain, climate change, political problems, and social issues. I embark on a spiritual journey filled with beauty and peace.

Nothing is more freeing for me than creating, and I believe in the power artwork has. I provide art therapy to individuals with Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, PTSD, autism, and many others; I have seen major improvements in their lives, as they learn how to cope and relieve their stress through art.

Being a diversified artist, I paint different kinds of subject matter. Recently, I have found myself depicting social and political issues in my symbolic artwork. I want to point out injustice in the world, so that it may be brought to the attention of others. I pinpoint issues such as human trafficking, global warming, racism, and inequality for women and people of all colors. With my other pieces of work such floral and landscape paintings, I want to emphasize the beauty that exists in the world.

Inspired by Georgia O’Keeffe, I paint large images of flowers, showing their intricacy. Nothing in the natural world is simple—it all has so much depth and detail. From the beautiful facets of a flower bud to the awe of Mount Everest, my artwork is used to behold the gorgeousness nature contains.

Throughout my career, I have sought to use art as a bridge between cultures, generations, and ideas. By combining traditional Eastern influences with contemporary Western approaches, I strive to create work that honors cultural heritage while engaging with the concerns of the present. Ultimately, my goal is to invite viewers into a deeper experience of beauty, meaning, and shared humanity.

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