Kajal Zaveri: Growth and Renewal
Based in New York and originally from India, Kajal Zaveri is a primarily self-taught artist. Her work, which centers on landscapes, is characterized by a free-flowing, expressive style that aligns with the realm of Abstract Realism. This approach blends familiar elements with innovative renditions tailored to contemporary sensibilities. Zaveri's creations stem from a place of positivity and joy, drawing inspiration from the diverse manifestations of nature. The ever-changing scenery, the interplay of light on the horizon, nature's abundance and beauty, the rhythm of seasons and waves, along with vibrant colors and dynamic textures, all contribute to an infinite palette for her art. The underlying message of growth and renewal in nature deeply influences her work.
How did your creative journey begin?
I am a full-time artist based for many years in San Francisco and now very recently working out of New York City. I was not always a full-time artist, and throughout my early life, I pursued the path of academics, pursuing art as a hobby. Growing up in India, I was always surrounded by vibrancy, colors, traditions, and celebrations. I did not get formal art school training, but enrolling in a local hobby art class and inspiration all around me was enough to ignite my love for painting. After I moved to California for my MBA, I worked in the corporate sector for a few years but kept getting drawn to art and wanting to visually translate the magnificence and beauty of California and many amazing encounters with nature, that filled me with a great sense of joy and excitement to visually journal on canvas, all that I saw and sensed around me. I decided to quit my corporate job and focused my time, effort, and energy on pursuing art as a full-time career. I am so thankful for that decision since I have enjoyed every day of my life being an artist and experiencing joy, calmness, anchoring, purpose, and equilibrium in my life.
Where do you find inspiration for your work?
My work with a focus on landscapes is free flowing and expressive and falls in the realm of Abstract Realism; art that is known and familiar but with a rendering of something new and fresh for modern sensibilities. From the celebrations and traditions of India to the surf and coastline of California, to the energy and vibrancy of New York, my conception of a hometown and thus my artistic influences, has undertaken a range of shifts and surprises. However, nature in all its manifestations still continues to inspire me and its magnificence and beauty always gives me a lot of things to paint. Besides the ever-changing natural scenery, the colors and the textures, its message of growth and renewal, provide an infinite palette for my art. The aesthetics and the sensation of a fleeting moment, carefully collected impressions, or vivid memories of various places and encounters is what I try to journal and visually translate onto canvas. I also hope to invite the viewer to pause, reflect, reconnect, and be reminded of our deep and enduring connection to the rhythms of nature
How has your work evolved over the last few years?
My artistic journey has been of continuous evolution and learnings, reflecting changes in my environment and personal growth. My early work was a lot about sharing the inner state of my own journey in choosing to be an artist and quitting a great paying corporate job, and portraying the joy and liberation I felt, through a vivid blend of expressive brushstrokes and colors. Early pieces like “Making a Mark” captured my deepest emotions and the broader landscape of life, embodying a raw, introspective quality. As I spent more time in California, my art began to mirror the state’s natural beauty and abundance. The magnificent landscapes inspired me to adopt a brighter color palette and calmer brushwork. My focus shifted to capturing the cyclical rhythms of nature and the joys of simple moments. Themes of gratitude, resilience, and the beauty of everyday life became prominent in my work. My recent move to New York has infused my art with renewed energy and movement. The city’s vibrant dynamism has inspired me to blend my established themes with a sense of urgency and excitement. This phase of my artistic journey has been about integrating the serene and contemplative aspects of my California experience with the vibrant, ever-changing pulse of New York. Through this evolution, the thing that remains unchanged is that my art continues to celebrate life’s infinite possibilities, positivity, and joy, shared human experiences, and the profound beauty all around. Each piece is a testament to my ongoing exploration of place, identity, and the universal themes of belief, and positivity as a common thread that connects us all.
What does a typical day in the studio look like for you, and how has your art practice grown or changed?
Before I moved to New York, I worked out of my garage in California, which had been converted into a working studio with great ventilation and lights, white walls with new and old work hanging on the walls and a couple of work in progress canvases on the easels. Since my recent move to New York, I don’t currently have the luxury of a big studio, but the process continues to be the same. I love starting early in the day, with a big cup of Chai and some background music, painting in my bright, open, spare bedroom with many big glass windows in my apartment. I have amazing views of the Hudson River, right out of my window and I love watching the play of light on water, the sailboats and cruise ships going by, the sunrise and sunset and the magnificently painted sky and so much more. I usually work till early evenings, after which I take over the role of mom. This is my happy place and my retreat, and I love painting and creating in my space.
Which experiences have impacted your work as an artist?
Being an artist, I really enjoy the freedom that I have carved for myself to create my visual stories and conversations about what I choose to share as I continue to learn, grow, and create and then share my point of view with the world. Art is powerful and giving yet humble and vulnerable at the same time. This sentiment has been reiterated even more strongly for me as I have recently found an immense sense of fulfillment as an art teacher to young artists. At the start of the pandemic, I volunteered to teach inclusive art classes to many children of all abilities, for a couple of years, and saw a very real, positive transformation in their interest in art, the boost in their confidence and skill set, and overall excitement about the possibilities of self-expression, joy, and pride that they experienced through their hard work, efforts, and tangible artwork. I also conducted various guest artist sessions for various NGOs and Art Museums and helped with Covid relief efforts through auctioning my art. I am also humbled to have had the opportunity to be a mentor and advisor in various capacities. My various varied interactions showcased the immense strength and power of art and how rewarding, satisfying and therapeutic it can be when shared with one and all. In the process, I also learnt a lot about myself, and this has boosted my confidence both as an artist and a collaborator. This entire experience has strengthened my vision to keep creating my art with even more gratitude, joy and humility.
How has social media impacted your work?
Social media has helped to expand both my audience and my artistic influences. Platforms like Instagram have provided a virtual gallery, enabling me to share my art with a global audience instantly. This exposure has led to various opportunities and also allowed for immediate feedback and interaction with art enthusiasts worldwide. Additionally, social media has fostered collaborations and connections with other artists, enriching my creative process with diverse perspectives and inspirations. The dynamic, fast-paced nature of social media keeps me engaged and inspired, continually evolving my artistic expression.
Your work has a very strong color palette; how do you decide what colors to use for each piece?
Though I am currently based and working out of New York, I am originally from India, the land of bright colors, energetic vibes, sights, sounds, multiculturalism, and strong traditions. I was always surrounded by wonderful folk and traditional art, vibrant colors and so many festivals that incorporated art and colors. For example, every year in Spring, we celebrate Holi – ‘The Festival of Colors’. We would celebrate the festival by smearing each other with colored powder and dye, all in good humor. So, colors have been part of my life growing up and gets reflected in my choice of colors. I also try to focus on the positives in life and in my landscapes or any other genre that I choose, I tend to use colors that are bright, happy, and uplifting. I want the viewer to feel happy when they see my work. I am also drawn to soothing and calm colors for many of my pieces and my water series and many of my abstract landscapes have a lot of whites, blues, and greens, to journal the calm, anchoring and almost meditative feeling I get when I paint nature. And since the viewer doesn’t know of my point of inspiration, it is my hope that when they view my work, it ignites their own fond memories of special places and times to entice nostalgia and dreaminess and a sense of commonness and shared experiences.
Website: www.kajalzaveri.art