Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sampada Kodagali Agarwal. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Sampada Kodagali, thanks for joining us today. What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

I was brought up by my parents in a simple, middle-class household in a small town in India. We grew up in a very creative, free, yet disciplined environment. There was a lot of emphasis on education, and learning – be it art, music, dance, or sports. What my parents did right was that they led by example. Each of them complemented the other – so we got the best of both the worlds.

Both my parents inculcated the love of languages – I can speak four different Indian languages, thanks to their due diligence. They were also very mindful of waste – be it money, food, water, or energy. We learnt to conserve our resources and were taught to be creative.

My father, a veterinarian by profession, was a voracious reader and was always surrounded by the written word. He got a library card for each of his children early in life – thus opening the doors to our imagination. He also used to love listening to music and talks by learned people on the radio. That encouraged us to enjoy music and form opinions/participate in healthy debates. For my father, the gender of his children (all 3 girls) was never a constraint – on the other hand, he was the wind beneath our wings.

My mother, a housewife, was an art teacher before she got married and so was always inclined towards the arts. She made art part of our lives as we grew up. Every morning, she would create a rangoli on the floor outside our front door. Rangoli is an ephemeral art that represents the happiness, positivity and liveliness of a household, and is intended to welcome Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth and good luck. She was also a wonderful cook and amazing hostess – anyone and everyone who came to our doorstep was fed delicious food. Her zest for life and love for art has shaped who I am.

I was also fortunate to have two older sisters who were equally proficient in art, music and dance – and were a constant source of inspiration to me. Being the youngest, I had the advantage of an early start on my sub-conscious journey as an artist.

I certainly feel my childhood has had a great impact on my positive outlook towards life, a can-do attitude, and how I always see the good in people. The thirst for knowledge has held me in good stead – it has made me an ever-evolving artist, always looking for ways to connect with people via arts, food, and hospitality.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a passionate visual artist/muralist/art educator, who has spent more than 18 years exploring traditional folk and tribal arts from India, the country of my birth; while living in the United States, my adopted country. Much of my work is primarily influenced by India and its rich and diverse culture. I live in Morrisville, NC and worked in the RTP as an IT professional. I embraced art opportunities available to me while living in the United States by interacting with local art and artists. Living outside India has not hindered me from studying various folk-art forms from India, as well. This exposure to art from different continents has helped me understand that art can indeed be a bridge that helps link people from different cultural and geographical backgrounds. I love to explore opportunities where art can become the language that helps bridge barriers and can spill over into everyday life. As an artist, using my talent to promote little known tribal art forms and giving back to the community is my focus.

I am also a Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT) – the Zentangle Method is an easy-to-learn, relaxing, and fun way to create beautiful images by drawing structured patterns. It is a contemporary, meditative method with origins in the US. According to many anecdotes, the physical, mental, and emotional benefits of this creative methodology are significant.

My work has been accepted in a number of exhibitions/shows and am part of various community outreach and philanthropic causes. My most recent public project (June 2024) is a large (16’x32′) mural I painted for my own hometown, the Town of Morrisville, North Carolina. This mural gave me two distinctive opportunities – one, it required painting the ceiling along with the wall – a first for me; two – I used an authentic folk style from the state of Madhya Pradesh in India called Gond, to highlight the diversity and progress of our town.

Other recent public projects include a solo exhibition in Durham, a 3-part Warli mural on the Lower Booker trail in Chapel Hill, chosen to be one of 60 artists for the first outdoor “Uproar Art Festival” hosted by the Orange County Arts Commission, a mural in the restaurant “Chaat Mandi” in Morrisville, an art kiosk on Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh, a Chapel Hill bus shelter, and “The Art of the Warli” mural in Durham, in the style of the Warli, a tribal art from India. I thoroughly enjoy showcasing my art at public spaces in Raleigh, Chapel Hill, and Durham and am grateful for each opportunity.

Human beings are essentially the same everywhere in the world. We revel in being creative and use different forms of art to express ourselves. Celebrating the similarities and as well as the differences in an effort to bridge the gaps created by physical and mental boundaries created by mankind, is my primary focus. I am really happy to be able to bridge the East and the West using mural art as one of the mediums. Murals help create a sense of community, beautify urban spaces, express historical and cultural identity, raise awareness about social issues, and inspire creativity and wonder. Hence my love for them, especially showcasing folk and tribal art from India.

I am quite happy to be the recipient of the Chapel Hill Arts & Culture Award Program for 2024-25 as an artist/CZT collaborating with a local non-profit, the Orange County Rape Crisis Center (OCRCC). The OCRCC serves survivors of sexual violence (including rape, assault, incest, child sexual abuse, sexual harassment and sex trafficking) and their impacted support networks through crisis intervention, advocacy, therapy, and peer support. I will lead Zentangle lessons to teach this creative, non-judgmental method to offer support to all participants, who are survivors of trauma, through an artistic healing journey. By using the channel of artistic creativity, the participants will be able to discover new skills and abilities as they create, leading to beautiful and unexpected results, while dealing with their individual traumas. I am particularly heartened to be able to provide art as a therapy to those who need it in my community,

You can find more information about me and my art here – https://linktr.ee/ansimit.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

My main goal driving my creative journey is to use art as a medium to highlight similarities, celebrate differences, and to make art accessible to all.

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” – Pablo Picasso
There are times when we box ourselves into a belief that overtakes our abilities. One such area is that of artistic creativity. Without going into the debate between the left and the right brains, we simply divide people into “artists” and “non-artists”. I aim to help break that barrier, find the inner artist in each of us, and welcome all to the creative field of art.

A picture is worth a thousand words, they say – wouldn’t it be wonderful if each of us could emote and express ourselves through art, a way to internalize and find peace with ourselves; a quiet place to retreat and contemplate. Setting time aside to practice art provides immense physical, mental, and emotional benefits. It can be a source of inspiration, reflection, and joy. It will also result in the belief that “the process is the product” – an important notion that one can bring into everyday life. Thus, life imitates art, as art imitates life.

I hope to ignite a passion for the traditional folk and tribal art styles from India in the US. When I study a Kolam motif (a drawing from South India), I see similarities with the Chinese knot or the Celtic patterns. Such commonalities underline how connected we are as human beings, regardless of our geographical distances and cultural differences. Our world needs such unifying thought processes for a peaceful future of mankind. This is the outward approach of art.

As a Certified Zentangle Teacher, I get to simplify art, shed a light on the importance of mental health/well-being, and the important part art (in the form of the Zentangle Method) plays in helping one relax, find focus, expand one’s imagination, trust your creativity, increase one’s awareness, respond confidently to the unexpected, discover the fun and healing in creative expression, and finally, feel gratitude and appreciation for this beautiful work and all that one can do. This is the inward approach of art.

Together, the outward and inward approaches towards art teach us compassion, collaboration, and creativity.

In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?

Society plays a key role in the support of artists, creatives and to provide a thriving creative ecosystem.

Let’s start with education, both for and by the artists. Arts education should be part of school curriculums – it is STEAM, not STEM. Support for vocational training programs, workshops, and continuing education opportunities can help artists hone their skills. If you want to support your local artist even more, why not take an art class from them? Taking an art class from a local artist gives you the unique opportunity to not only develop new skills but also get to know the artist and their creative process.

Funding and grants is another important pillar that supports the arts. Providing diverse and accessible funding opportunities, including grants, scholarships, and fellowships can keep the artists’ creativity abuzz. Establishing public and private partnerships can also ensure sustainable financial support. One of the best ways to support artists in your community is to donate to a local arts organization. Arts organizations not only provide opportunities for artists to practice and share their craft, educate the community on the value of art, but they also enrich our communities with vibrant culture and arts.

Public arts programs, art residencies, and community arts programs that engage local communities and provide artists with opportunities to gain visibility and experience can help create a thriving creative ecosystem. For example, murals are a great way to bring art to the people and make it part of their everyday life.

Art is everywhere in our world – it isn’t confined to a museum or gallery space. The everyday items we interact with on a daily basis are often the product of an artist’s hard work, from the logo of your favorite food joint to the backdrop of a television show or movie. It is important to make sure that you appreciate art in its various forms and support local artists in your community. Take the time to visit art galleries and museums, attend concerts and shows, purchase art prints or handmade items, or volunteer at an arts organization. By doing this, you’re making sure that the artistic talent and vision of your community is appreciated and supported.

Artists are often the unsung heroes of our communities – they often work for little pay and are rarely given the recognition they deserve. But by understanding and appreciating the art that is all around us, we can help bring attention to these artists and make sure their hard work is acknowledged and celebrated. So take a moment to look around and appreciate the art that surrounds you – you might be surprised by how much there is!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://linktr.ee/ansimit
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/ansimit.sampada
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ansimitbysampada
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sampada-agarwal-8820691/
• Twitter: None
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7Zx5E_T-jJtTSs4MNEBE-g
• Yelp: None
• Soundcloud: None

Image Credits

Anuraag Agarwal
Chris Titus