Today we’d like to introduce you to Sonali Puri.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I am a seventeen-year-old artist. First generation of immigrants and a first-generation painter. I currently reside in Richmond, Texas but I used to reside in Alief Houston. Throughout my childhood, like every immigrant child, I was pushed towards the STEM field and academic, extracurricular activities such as debate or speech, but there was something that called out to me more: art. Being an only child I never really had anyone personal to confide in, I was often left dealing with issues myself, but at the age of 8, I discovered my love for art in my 2nd Grade art class at Boone Elementary. My teacher at the time was Ms. Victoria Ojukwu (Now known as Ms. Victoria Kuhn), and that was where I truly fell in love with art. I would go to her art class during lunch and work on assignments or even just mess around with other materials we normally would not use in the classroom. I felt a sense of comfort in that classroom, and a way to express myself. As I have gotten older art has not only become a way for me to express my inner feelings, but also a way for me to honor the world around me. Many of my pieces either focus on the western heritage that surrounds me in my small suburban community, my Indian roots, and many other ethnicities that surround me. The common denominator in all of these? Culture. I am infatuated with the beauty of different cultures and their adaptations to society today, and I love painting that. I love bringing other cultures to life through my artwork. Although I am only 17 and my story is common, I am hoping I can change that as the future goes on.
Please tell us about your art.
My artwork focuses on the world around me, mostly culture. I focus on the western heritage in Texas, my roots in Indian culture, and also Houstonian culture. I make these pieces because culture infatuates me, I am in awe of the beauty that revolves around different ethnicities who are historically rich, and in others who are more modern. The message in my artwork is simple: beauty. I want to honor the beauty that is embedded in cultures around the world. My goal takeaway is that I hope people realize that their world is just a small bubble and that it is compulsory for them to leave the confinement of that bubble and open their eyes to the world around them. Many of us show ignorance and believe we are the peak, but in reality, there is so much beauty in the cultures around the world that it is necessary for us to honor those. I usually use real elements from the culture I am painting, such as fabric or jewelry and embed them into the painting. I do this to honor the culture I am painting and incorporate a connection between the painting and the culture itself.
As an artist, how do you define success and what quality or characteristic do you feel is essential to success as an artist?
As an artist, I believe joy is the true embodiment of success. I believe as an artist if you achieve joy from painting, sculpting, crafting, you are succeeding. As soon as that quality of joy is removed, there is a sense of emptiness in one’s mind, and it reflects upon the artwork itself. I also believe perseverance is an essential quality. Many of us won’t succeed the first time in a new opportunity, a new medium, or even a new subject of an artwork and if we give up and do not keep practicing, you have failed. When using perseverance, you can achieve massive success.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
Currently, I have a piece in the 310 Gallery in Richmond, which honors Western Culture in Texas and next month there will be one honoring Indian culture.
I also have an Instagram: @sonali.art, and I am currently in the works of making a website.
For commissions, my email is sonalipurisonali@gmail.com, and I am open to any opportunities.
Contact Info:
- Phone: 7138762182
- Email: sonalipurisonali@gmail.com
- Instagram: @sonali.art
- Facebook: fb.me/sonalipuriart
- Twitter: @inkedsonali
Image Credit:
Houston Live Stock Show and Rodeo for image of me holding up my art in a frame
Marixi Mae Malek for the image of me and orange flowers
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