Today we’d like to introduce you to Aneri Shah.

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

I grew up in a tier 2 city in India and was drawn to art at an early age. Although I lived in an urban environment, various gender divides were quite apparent growing up and my views on bridging those found their way into artistic expression. I moved to the USA to pursue my passion in art, obtaining an MFA in textile art. My art focused on the traditional Indian garment, the saree, and its interplay with gender roles in India.

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

Not always smooth. I come from a family of doctors and societal pressures to follow a familiar path were considerable. Once I entered the art environment, I had to learn the lay of the land from near scratch. A lot of creative destruction has taken place in the pursuit of finding my artistic place.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?

I’m known for my pieces that highlight gender issues using traditional Indian themes. I use a variety of textile art techniques and some of my popular pieces are sculpture textile art. My pieces tend to be more expansive than most textile pieces, involving large installations and sculptures with multiple components.

Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?

Find a strong common connection and be selective instead of casting a wide net. Be cordial and grateful of the time you are given. Try to make these interactions as easy for your mentors as possible in terms of location, timing etc.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Aneri-shah.com
• Instagram: @anyax_art

Image Credits

Aneri Shah