A brush with painting
Surya Sajnani is a visual artist, living and working in St Petersburg, Florida.
Early impressions
I grew up in India and lived there until the age of 27.
From a young age I loved painting and drawing but didn’t go to to art school. Instead, a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemistry, Botany and Zoology allowed me to stay drawing. What I enjoyed most about my time in college is playing bass guitar in a girl band called the Blue Genes!
After college I worked in advertising for 4 years after which I trained as a graphic designer at one of India’s leading design firms.
Family business
My husband and I co founded our company Wee Gallery when our son was born in 2002. For 20 years we made design led baby toys that were sold at high end retailers like Anthropologie, MoMA and Land of Nod, as well as stores all over the US, Europe and worldwide.
Seeing through art
A few years ago I came across the term ‘aphantasia’, a condition where a person does not have any mental imagery. That was me - my mind’s eye is blind! This discovery explained my deep need to draw and paint, as it was the only way for me to ‘see’ my thoughts. I started painting weekly with a group in 2022 and it was transformative. I was learning a whole new language that my psyche communicated in, providing access to new fields of information. The insights that came from making art had a staying power that logic could not reach.
My painting ‘Emerging Worlds’ was exhibited at the London Art Bienialle in 2023.
I work mostly with acrylics on paper and wood, and love to experiment with paper cutting, collage and monoprints.
My Learn-eage
Since I did not receive formal art instruction, I owe my art and design experience to the people who took a chance on me along the way.
Sadiqa Peerbhoy, for my very first job in design at MAA Bozell in Bangalore, India, 1992
Sujata Keshavan, for the rigorous design training at Ray + Keshavan Design, Bangalore, India, 1996
Shivakumar Vishwanathan and Sarita Sundar, without whose help I wouldn’t have lasted at R+K!
Majio, whose instruction led me back to myself through the practice of art making, Santa Cruz, USA, 2022