Today we’d like to introduce you to Tanya Momi.

Hi Tanya, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.

My story begins with a young woman in her early twenties, full of dreams, stepping into a new life in San Francisco after marriage. I quickly became a mother of two, juggling the responsibilities of raising a family while building a business from the ground up. On the surface, I had everything—two beautiful children and a thriving career. But behind closed doors, my marriage was unraveling, pulling me into a storm of emotional, mental, and physical abuse. Every day felt like walking on eggshells, never knowing what would trigger the next explosion. I was isolated, silenced, and made to feel like I was nothing. I lost myself in that marriage, shrinking a little more each day until I barely recognized the woman in the mirror.
By my thirties, I was staring at a painful truth: I was a single mother, alone in a foreign country, fighting for my survival and the future of my children. The weight of that reality was crushing. There were nights when I cried myself to sleep, exhausted from the endless struggles of making ends meet, from the fear of failing my children, from the deep loneliness of carrying this burden alone. The world felt unforgiving, but I had no choice—I had to keep going.
Those years tested me in ways I never imagined. I had no roadmap, no safety net. But I had my kids. I had my parents, who stepped in as my anchor. And I had the incredible women I met through my salon—women who saw my struggle, lifted me up, and reminded me that I wasn’t alone. That sisterhood became my strength. They taught me that even in the darkest of times, love and kindness can be found.
I played every role imaginable—mother, father, provider, protector. There were days I barely slept, nights I worked until my body ached, but every morning, I woke up and pushed forward. Life gave me lemons, so I sold lemonade—sometimes quite literally—just to put food on the table. I held my children’s hands through their own pain, assuring them that one day, things would be better. And through it all, I never stopped fighting.
Leaving my abusive marriage was the hardest and best decision of my life. I had no understanding of my rights as a woman at the time, but I knew one thing: I refused to be trapped in that life. My ex-husband, despite court orders, never made an effort to change, never fought for his children, and in the end, walked away. But I walked forward.
The battle didn’t end there. The divorce process was brutal, dragging on for years—until my children turned 18. The court system was broken, and I found myself trapped in a legal nightmare that drained my bank accounts while attorneys took full advantage of my case. It was exhausting, disheartening, and at times, it felt like justice would never come. My in-laws were no better—a narcissistic, cruel family that treated me and my children with nothing but emotional, mental, and even physical torment. They were in-laws from hell. I did not deserve to live in that environment. I never saw joy or happiness—only relentless hard work and struggle. Behind closed doors, you have no idea what my in-laws were plotting against me, blaming me for their wrongdoings, twisting the truth to make me the villain.
I don’t even know what a healthy, loving family or marriage looks like. That kind of love and partnership never existed for me. I stayed single all my life, choosing instead to focus on my children and rebuilding a life of dignity and purpose.
What hurt even more was the lack of compassion from my own community. Women from India whose husbands provided for them, who lived in the comfort of happy marriages, had no empathy for me. Instead of lifting me up, they shunned me and my children—children who had done nothing wrong. It is disheartening when your own community turns its back on you simply because you refuse to stay silent about your truth. But I will not be silenced. Even in my art journey, I have faced jealousy and resentment. My work, my voice, threatens those who do not want to hear the truth. They have tried to silence me, but I refuse to be erased.
With the weight of responsibility on my shoulders, I built a new life. I became a small business owner, running a full-service spa salon in Mountain View. That salon wasn’t just a place of work—it was a community. It became the gateway to friendships, mentorships, and unexpected blessings. The women who walked through my doors didn’t just get their hair or nails done; they became part of my journey, offering encouragement, wisdom, and the kind of support that only women who’ve walked through fire can give each other.
And then, finally, after years of struggle, the rain clouds began to lift. With my children growing into incredible young adults, I finally had the space to rediscover myself—not just as a mother or a businesswoman, but as me. I turned to painting, to meditation, to travel. My art became my voice, my way of telling the stories that had shaped me. I poured my experiences, my pain, and my healing into every brushstroke, creating work that speaks to resilience, history, and empowerment. My paintings tell stories of survival, of women who, like me, refused to be erased.
None of this was part of the life I had originally dreamed of, but in many ways, it became something even greater. Today, I stand not just as a survivor, but as a woman who has reclaimed her own narrative. I hope my journey reminds others—especially women facing their own battles—that no matter how impossible things may seem, there is always a way forward. Strength isn’t about never falling; it’s about rising, again and again, until you create the life you deserve.
To every single mother out there who feels alone, who is struggling to breathe under the weight of responsibility, I see you. I know your pain. And I promise you—there is light ahead.
Thank you so much for featuring my voice.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?

It has certainly not been a smooth road for me. I arrived in California in March 1983, and my marriage began on the wrong path. I didn’t know at the time that my ex-husband had mental health issues, along with being an alcoholic, substance user, gambler, and much more. His narcissistic tendencies, combined with a controlling, manipulative family, pulled me into a dark hole, and life quickly became a living hell for both me and my children.
I was isolated from the world and from my family. I became a punching bag for their frustrations and misery. My passport was taken away from me, and I had to ask permission to make even a phone call to my parents. I wasn’t allowed to check the mail or make any decisions without permission. I had to ask for food, and I had no choice but to follow the directions given to me by my in-laws and brother-in-law. I became nothing more than an educated maid for the family.
I was expected to cook and clean for everyone, making sure my in-laws were fed three hot meals a day. The brothers and their families would show up unannounced on weekends, and there was no end to the housework. While I was pregnant, I was so ill that my mother-in-law accused me i was dramatic for my throwing up. Despite my sickness, I was expected to cook for them and serve them first before I could eat myself. You would think I was living in another era, but this was happening in the USA.
My dreams were shattered, and I was living as a slave in my own home. I still smiled and served them, as I had no other choice. But in reality, I was traumatized by their verbal, emotional, and mental abuse. Each day, I felt myself diminishing. I didn’t know my rights. I didn’t have a bank account, and I didn’t have a car. After my father-in-law passed away, my mother-in-law became even worse. She began to compete with me for my husband’s attention, claiming I had taken him away from her. But he had always been a mama’s boy.
My ex-husband told me the house belonged to his parents, not to me, and I had to ask permission for everything. My father-in-law would tell me I smiled too much, walked too fast, and needed to cover my head and obey their orders. There was so much trauma that I could write a book about it. My mother-in-law blamed me for my husband’s drinking and gambling, even though these issues had been present long before I came into the picture. He definitely had many mental health and behavioral problems, but no one talked about it before marriage. Indian families often hide these things, marry their children off, and only then you find out about these issues. It’s a hellish trap, and I was completely unaware.
My life and my children’s lives were ruined. We were trapped in this toxic environment, with no peace or happiness. It was only with the help of my parents that I was able to escape this nightmare. Without their support, we would not have survived.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?

My journey as an artist and salon owner has been a deeply personal and transformative one. As an artist, I specialize in creating powerful works that tell stories of resilience, healing, and the complexities of the human experience. Over the years, my work has evolved, but the common thread has always been a deep connection to culture, history, and the stories that need to be told. One of the things I’m most known for is my Partition-themed art, where I capture the suffering, resilience, and enduring spirit of those affected by the partition of India and Pakistan. Through my paintings, I convey the pain of migration and separation, while also offering a vision of hope, compassion, and a better future between India and Pakistan.

What sets me apart as an artist is my dedication to using my work as a form of advocacy for peace and healing. My paintings reflect real stories, many of which have never been told. I often draw from my own experiences and the stories of people I’ve met, pouring their emotions and experiences into every brushstroke. My work isn’t just art—it’s a form of storytelling that helps bridge cultural gaps and raise awareness about the need for healing from past traumas.

As a salon owner, I’ve had the opportunity to bring together two passions: creativity and community. The salon has always been more than just a place for beauty treatments. It’s been a space where clients can relax, rejuvenate, and experience creativity in many forms. I have always encouraged those around me to embrace their individuality, whether it’s through personal style, self-expression, or artistic creativity. I believe that beauty, in all its forms, is an expression of the soul, and I’ve created a space where this philosophy comes alive.

I’m most proud of the way my art has had a lasting impact. My Partition-themed pieces are being recognized globally, and my work has been included in important collections, like Dr. Kamlesh Mohan’s The Uprooted People. The opportunity to showcase stories that were once hidden, and to give a voice to the marginalized, is something that fills me with immense pride. The salon has also been a space for personal growth—watching my team grow and helping people discover their confidence through art, style, and self-care has been incredibly fulfilling.

What sets me apart is the way I intertwine my personal experiences with my art and business. My journey as an artist, and as a salon owner, is not just about success—it’s about creating a space for connection, storytelling, and empowerment. I’ve used my own struggles and triumphs to fuel my work and inspire those around me, ensuring that every client, every person who interacts with my art, feels a sense of belonging and value.

What are your plans for the future?

As I reflect on my future plans, I’m filled with excitement and purpose, particularly in the realm of my work on Partition art and its broader cultural impact. Recently, my research and art on the Partition of Punjab have gained significant momentum. This has opened many doors, such as my recent interview with Professor Lakhvir Singh for The Muktsar Dialogue on YouTube, which led to a collaboration with scholars and invitations to speak at academic conferences. I am particularly excited to present my research paper, Rethinking the Partition of Punjab: Understanding the Inhuman Context of Colonial Policies, at Khalsa College, Amritsar, in November 2024.
Additionally, I’ve had the honor of creating a series of paintings focused on themes of peace, compassion, and resilience, commissioned by Dr. Kamlesh Mohan for her forthcoming book, The Uprooted Peoples’ Lives: Uncovering Stories of Compassion, Resilience, and Healing. This project has allowed me to connect deeply with my family’s Partition history, sharing their stories and honoring their memory through my art.
On a more personal level, I’m focused on continuing to develop my work as an author with Daughter of a Refugee and other potential writing projects. My experiences and the lessons learned from both my struggles and triumphs are something I want to share more widely. I plan to continue using storytelling in all its forms—through my paintings, my writing, and my personal interactions—to inspire others and create lasting impact.
Looking forward, I am focused on continuing to create new bodies of work while expanding the reach of my art. My goal is to showcase my series of Partition paintings in museums around the world. It is a dream for any living artist to have their work featured in such prestigious spaces. I aim to make my art accessible to a wider audience, with a particular interest in exhibiting at prominent art fairs like Art Basel and connecting with curators and collectors. If anyone can connect me with curators or museums, I would be grateful for that opportunity.
On top of this, I plan to keep evolving as both an artist and storyteller. I’ve been fortunate to have my artwork featured in the film Designed by Preeti, where I also played the role of head seamstress. The film tackles important themes like domestic abuse, mental health, and interracial romance, and I’m proud to see my art contribute to its powerful message of transformation and resilience.
Ultimately, my future is about continuing to create meaningful art that fosters healing and understanding, while also embracing the opportunity to share these stories with the world on a larger scale. I look forward to the day when my hard work pays off, and my art resonates with even more people globally.

Contact Info:

• Website: www Tanyamomi. Com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanya.momi/
• Facebook: Tanya Momi
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanya-momi/