Rajul Shah
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Rajul Shah (b. 1968, Mumbai), featured in AQ Volume VI, is an abstract artist currently based in Singapore and the United States. Shah is best known for her 2D Kintsugi paintings, which integrate a meditative layering of colors. She works primarily in mixed media, incorporating acrylic, oil, gouache, and metal leaf to create textured and conceptual works. Shah refined her craft through studies at the Temple University Tyler School of Art in Tokyo and mentorships, which have deeply influenced her artistic philosophy and technical approach.
Shah's work explores themes of resilience and renewal, drawing inspiration from the philosophy behind the Japanese art of Kintsugi. Her paintings often represent the restoration of emotional balance and renewal of chakras, emphasizing the beauty in imperfection and the strength found in repair. Characterized by harmonious layers of color and intricate compositions, her art invites introspection. One of her significant series, Introspections in Resilience, highlights her ability to intertwine abstract expression with meaningful narratives of healing and transformation.
Rajul Shah has exhibited her work in prestigious venues such as the 82nd Annual Shinseisaku Exhibition at the National Art Center in Tokyo, the 49th Annual Genyouten Exhibition at the Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Art, and the 32nd Annual National Japanese Exhibition of Nature at Ueno No Mori Art Museum. Her work has also been part of international showcases: the 29th Annual International Society of Experimental Artists in Canada, India Art Festival in Mumbai, Pre-World Expo in Kyoto, Superfine Art Fair NYC, and upcoming shows in Paris and Istanbul in 2025.
https://www.rajulshahart.com
What inspired you to become an artist, and how did you decide to commit to this path?
I have always been a creative person, was a vocalist/musician in my early years, loved drawing and photography. After 20 years in healthcare marketing, I went back to my passion of art and fell in love with painting.
Could you share the story or concept behind your recent work?
My work is a fusion of conceptual healing philosophies behind the Japanese art of Kintsugi and the spiritual teachings of the chakras. Both rooted in ancient tradition, my art offers a visually meditative space for introspection and renewal. "What needs repair does not need to define us, we can renew and evolve into stronger versions of ourselves."
What role does experimentation and exploration play in your artistic practice?
As I use color fields to illustrate the auratic energy of each chakra and Kintsugi lines to denote healing/balancing of the chakra, I am always playing with color and texture. Whether it's leftover paint on my palette or some new material combination, I keep an art journal full of my experiments and always refer back to it when deciding upon the next layer of a painting.
