We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Yashoda Latkar. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Yashoda below.

Hi Yashoda, thanks for joining us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

I’m not sure I have all the answers, as I still feel like I’m at the beginning of my journey. But from what I’ve learned so far, I believe success comes from consistency—showing up every day, even when things get tough. It’s about continuing to apply for shows and residencies, even when you face countless rejections. Over time, the rejections turned into acceptances, and those small wins helped build my confidence. You just have to keep pushing forward, keep making work, and keep creating. Looking back, I realize that it was my persistence, not just my talent, that moved me forward.

Yashoda, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I always knew what I did NOT want to do! Growing up in a middle-class Maharashtrian family in Mumbai, India, it was common to aspire to be a doctor or engineer. But I never really enjoyed math or science; instead, I was drawn to languages and writing. Even though I wasn’t sure what I wanted to pursue, I began eliminating options until I found myself with a camera in my undergrad. My older brother, who worked as an assistant director in a production house, got me a job as a still photographer on a film set. My first job was photographing the Indian remake of the American series “24.” The filming lasted almost a year, and the hands-on experience I gained during that time taught me more about photography than any formal education ever could.

That’s how my journey into photography began, and I loved every minute of it. After a few years working as a publicity and still photographer, I left home to work as a cruise photographer on Royal Caribbean. Following that, I moved to London to study fashion photography, and by that time, I was fully immersed in the world of fashion and commercial photography. After meeting my husband, I relocated to Las Cruces, New Mexico, where he taught at New Mexico State University and due to visa restrictions, I took MFA classes at the university. This marked the beginning of an entirely new chapter in my life—becoming an artist.

In grad school, I started with photography but soon became interested in moldmaking and ceramics. I also began creating videos and small installations. Working with my hands and making something from scratch became a source of great satisfaction for me.

Having worked as a commercial photographer for over a decade, I’ve been able to incorporate those skills into my artwork. My experience on movie sets often influences my video work—everything from the sequencing and editing to the lighting.

One of my proudest achievements is building a life as an artist from scratch in southern New Mexico over the past five years. Moving here from Mumbai, where I spent most of my life, was daunting. I identified so strongly with the vibrant, chaotic energy of the city—its towering skyscrapers, endless traffic, noisy streets, sizzling street food, and strong smells of spices. New Mexico, with its quiet beauty, felt completely unfamiliar, and for a while, I felt like I didn’t belong anywhere. But now, after graduating with an MFA, creating a space for myself in this community, and teaching photography and art at NMSU and El Paso Community College, I feel like I’ve come a long way.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Moving to the USA without a concrete plan was the scariest and biggest leap of faith I’ve ever taken. But I know I’m not alone—many Indian spouses move here to join their partners and face similar challenges. Being on a dependent visa is extremely limiting. You can’t work, rent a house, or own a car. Essentially, you’re like an overqualified child without a social security number! On top of that, I moved to a small city like Las Cruces, New Mexico, which was a huge change from the bustling life I was used to in Mumbai.

I’m a social person who thrives on having friends and family around, so one of my biggest challenges was building a new community and making connections here. (Learning to drive on the opposite side of the road was another!) Then came the challenge of being an MFA student. I had no formal education in art and didn’t even fully grasp what “fine art” meant at the time. As a commercial photographer who specialized in fashion, I struggled to create “conceptual” work. I realized that sometimes you have to learn to enjoy certain things, and that’s exactly what I did.

When I lived in the UK, I visited a lot of galleries and museums—Tate Modern was one of my favorite spots. But back then, I didn’t understand much of the art I saw, and I probably laughed at artists who I now deeply admire. In grad school, I had to quickly teach myself the history of art, how to look at and interpret it, and how to appreciate it. I pushed myself to learn and enjoy every aspect of the art world.

There’s a saying, “When life gives you lemons…” and I feel like I’ve truly lived by it throughout this journey.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I think the most rewarding aspect of being an artist is the ability to express myself in ways that feel deeply authentic. There’s something incredibly fulfilling about taking an idea or emotion and transforming it into a tangible form that others can experience. And when people connect with that work and share how much it meant to them, there’s truly nothing that compares. For example, I’m currently showing my work at FotoFest in Houston, and I recently received a message on Instagram from someone I didn’t know. They wrote: “You don’t know me, but I was so moved by ‘Everything at Once’ at Silver Street Studios. I’m writing this message on my third time through watching the piece, and I wanted to say thank you for making it—it really spoke to my heart!” Messages like this fill me with gratitude and remind me why I do what I do. It’s moments like these that keep me moving forward.

Another deeply rewarding aspect of my journey is giving back through teaching. I never thought I’d become an educator, but now, as an adjunct instructor, I truly enjoy sharing my knowledge with students. What’s even more surprising is how much I learn from them. Teaching keeps me connected to the evolving art world, always seeking out new contemporary artists to share with my students and discovering fresh perspectives myself. It keeps me sharp, engaged, and always striving to grow creatively. I feel so grateful for the opportunities I’ve received, and I hope that one day I can give back to the community that has welcomed me so warmly.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yashoda1212/

Image Credits

All images are photographed by me. Only the cinderblock installation photo is by Nicholas Valdés.