"It would perhaps not be an exaggeration to say
that beauty is born out of pain
rather than the other way around.
And that the greater the pain is,
the greater also the beauty will become."
~S.J.Pettersson
"As my artist statement explains,
my work is utterly incomprehensible
and is therefore full of deep significance."
~Calvin (Bill Watterson)
My art, like my life, revolves around my chronic migraines. When a migraine comes on, even with my eyes closed, I "see" things. Colors and shapes flood my mind in fluid poetry. These mystical images recede, shift, radiate and pulse, becoming more vibrant and vivid as time goes on. Frequently, I paint through a migraine, trying to quickly tap into what I see. When I can't, I am able to recall the imagery at a later time and commit that to canvas.
Each piece I create evolves from a meditative and introspective process, wherein I become one with my art: it is being aware in that moment, being mindful, acknowledging the pain and chaos, and losing myself to the visual symphony that unfolds. Some notes are peaceful, while others are discordant. I train myself to paint through the painful discomfort: My breathing slows down, my jaw unclenches, and my body slowly begins to relax. Often, completing a painting acts as a relief, and reminds me that my mind can do more than just process pain: it can transform pain into beauty.
I think of myself as an abstract expressionist, with my paintings highlighting a spontaneous, intuitive and personal mark-making. Even though I wouldn't call my paintings portraits, all of my works are self-portraits in a way. My art is part of me and I am part of my art
Fifty of my early paintings have been published in both hardcover and paperback editions by Pocamug press in December 2017.
Preview and buy it on Amazon by clicking the link below:
Migraine Visions: Transforming Pain Into BeautyIt’s easy to walk a path and leave no footprints at all, but a determined soul digs deep, digs in, and leaves behind a little something.
And so, it is with me.
2012-14 Doctoral Studies, ABD, Arts Administration, Education and Policy
The Ohio State University
2012 MA Visual Arts Education
University of Cincinnati
1998 BFA Communication Arts and Design
Virginia Commonwealth University
Cincinnati Art Club
Fitton Center
The Woman's Art Club of Cincinnati
Membership Chair 2018-2020
Signature Member
The Dayton Visual Arts Center
Dayton Society of Artists
The Arts Alliance
Ohio Art League
"Art is like therapy; what comes up is what comes up."
~Nick Bantock
These ORIGINAL paintings are all for sale.
Currently items can be shipped only within the United States. Allow 1-2 weeks for delivery.
"All life is an experiment.
The more experiments you make, the better."
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Painted shadowboxes with layers of painting to enhance dimensionality. Painting on inside of the glass, inside back of the box, and inside side. Original and one of a kind!
Click to preview and buy. Currently items can be shipped only within the United States. Allow 1-2 weeks for delivery.
Photo credit for shadowboxes: Tracy Doyle Photography
"To create one's world in any of the arts takes courage"
~Georgia O'Keeffe
Recently, I have started creating jewelry that I call "Dreams".
The pendants and bracelets feature original miniature paintings of my migraine visions.
Additionally, they have been embellished with sequins bought in the bylanes off Charminar, from my birthplace of Hyderabad, India.
Click to preview and buy. Currently, items can be shipped only within the United States.
"Whether you succeed or not is irrelevant, there is no such thing.
Making your unknown known is the important thing."
~Georgia O'Keeffe
Springboro, OH, Artfest on Main
Kettering, OH, Art on the Commons
Bloomington, IN, Arts Fair on the Square
Contemporary Art Museum, Cincinnati, OH, AAPI Show
Cincinnati Public Libary, Voices and Visions: Expressions by Cincinnati Asian-American Artists
Westheimer Gallery, Sharonville, OH, Solo show, Inside Out
Woman's Art Club of Cincinnati, 130th Annual Juried Art Show
Sprit of Sophia fundraiser, KY, Women Create
University of Cincinnati, OH, DAAP Emeriti Fundraiser
Woman's Art Club of Cincinnati, OH, Signature Exhibit
Cincinnati, OH, Northminster Fine Arts Fair
Fitton Center, Hamilton Current
Woman's Art Club of Cincinnati, 129th Annual Juried Art Show
Evendale Cultural Arts Center, Evendale Annual Juried Fine Arts Exhibit
Wyoming Annual Juried Art Show, Art Fair and Competition
Talbot Street Art Fair, Indianapolis, Art Fair
Milford Art Affaire, Art Fair
Art on the Commons, Ciyt of Kettering, OH, Art Fair
Penrod Art Fair, Indianapolis, Art Fair
Hyde Park Juried Art Show, Art Fair
The Barn, Mariemont, OH, Showcase of the Arts
Lafayette Round the Fountain Art Fair, Art Fair
Fitton Center, Hamilton Current
Wyoming Annual Juried Art Show, Virtual Art Fair/Competition
Oxford Community Arts Center, Peace and Quiet Exhibit
Gallery Veronique, Pop Up Art Show
Indianapolis Penrod Art Fair, Art Fair
Milford Art Affaire, Art Fair
Indianapolis Monument Circle Art Fair, Art Fair
Hyde Park Juried Art Show, Art Fair
Kettering Rosewood Arts Center, Featured Artist
Sharonville Cultural Arts Center, Art North
Louisville Spirit of Jazz, Spirit of Sophia, Fundraiser
Greater Cincinnati Winter Fair, Juried Art Fair
The Barn, Showcase of the Arts
Evendale Cultural Arts Center, Solo Guest Artist Exhibit
Northminster Fine Arts Fair, Art Fair
Avenue Arts, Inside Outside: Colors of Experience
Woman’s Art Club of Cincinnati, All Member Show
Evendale Cultural Arts Center, Annual Juried Fine Arts Exhibit
Woman’s Art Club of Cincinnati, 126th Annual Juried Art Exhibition
Indian Hill Gallery, (forming) SPACE: Works on Abstraction
Fitton Center, Hamilton Current
Columbus Arts Festival
Wyoming Annual Juried Art Show
Ann Arbor State Street Arts Fair
The Barn, From the Shadows: Expressions by Cathy Fiorelli, Caroline Pyle and Priya Rama
Hayley Gallery, Tony Lee + Priya Rama
Art in Speed Park
Upper Arlington Labor Day Arts Festival
Milford Art Affaire
SALI National Abstract Art Exhibition, Juried Art Exhibit
Hyde Park Juried Art Show
Art Design Consultants, Art Comes Alive
Indian Hill Gallery, The Little Art Juried Show
Sharonville Cultural Arts Center, Art North
York St Art Gallery, Enter the Ethereal
ArtWorks Cincinnati, Secret Artworks
The Barn, Showcase of the Arts
Sharonville Cultural Arts Center,Holiday Market
Sharonville Cultural Arts Center, Landscape: Imagined or Illustrated
Woman’s Art Club of Cincinnati, 125th Annual Juried Art Exhibition
Sharonville Cultural Arts Center, Coming Together: Art, Family and Friends
Evendale Cultural Arts Center, Annual Juried Fine Arts Exhibit
Wyoming Annual Juried Art Show
Columbus Arts Festival
Bridge Folk Arts & Music Festival
Market Bleu, Contemporary Art Center, Cincinnati
Gallery 708, Emergence: Coming Into View
Milford Art Affaire
Hyde Park Juried Art Show
Art Design Consultants, Art Comes Alive
Eisele Gallery,The Woman’s Art Club of Cincinnati: Painters Past and Present
Fitton Center, Twilight
Sharonville Cultural Arts Center, Art North
"Great things are done by a series of small things brought together."
~Vincent van Gogh
Grand Prize Winnder, Art North
Cover Art Feature, Orca Literary Magazine, Spring issue
Multi-Award Winner, Woman's Art Club of Cincinnati, 126th Annual Juried Art Exhibition
Artist Talk, MEDPACE Medical Directors Conference, Cincinnati, OH
Spektrum Gesundheit magazine, Migraine Series, 2021, Mar, May, July
Talk and presentation: My life + Art, Novartis, Switzerland
Award of Excellence, Art North
Signature Membership, Woman's Art Club of Cincinnati
Best New Artist Award, Milford Art Affaire
Merit Award, Columbus Arts Festival
Outdoor Artist Award, Wyoming Art Show
Certificate of Artistic Excellence, OHIOana Library Association
Purchase Award, The Diamond Headache Clinic, Chicago, IL
Honorable Mention, Art North
Artist Feature, Frames of MindHonorable Mention, Hamilton Current
"Art is not what you see,
but what you make others see."
~Edgar Degas
Find my work at these amazing art galleries by clicking the links below.
For purchase enquiries, contact the galleries or me at priyaramaart@gmail.com.
"Passion is the bridge that takes you from pain to change."
~Frida Kahlo
