ARTIST STATEMENT:

I grew up in India seeing and helping my mom make Mother Goddess out of mud and painting simple folk motifs on the wall or floors on different occasions using red brick powder, chalk, turmeric, and rice paste. I remember her saying “you don’t need resources, you need to be resourceful.” 

The exhibited pieces here are inspired by Indian Folk Art. Through this process I learned more about the history of folk art and engaged with my connection to it. My inspiration is fueled by how surfaces, colors, shapes, and light tell their stories through chips and cracks. Making art feels like magic-using tools and myself to create something special. For me, practicing art means staying open to possibilities. The most crucial part is that my work feels like it has experienced something, carrying its own shadows, joys, and complexities. It holds the memory of time spent adding, subtracting, and transforming. Even if only for a moment, I want both myself and the viewer to journey inward together. 

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY:

Saloni Sharma is a visual artist and interior designer born and raised in India. She loves experimenting with different mediums and techniques and always had a passion for art. During the pandemic, she engaged in online art sessions for immigrant women via Non-Profit Organizations, fostering connection, skill acquisition, and collective healing through weekly art activities. Saloni has excellent teaching and facilitation skills and has conducted numerous in-person art workshops for diverse communities, including seniors, single mothers, and children. 

Instagram: @salonisharma2426
LinkedIn: Saloni Sharma