Shobha’s life began in India. At age two, she moved with her family from India to Oregon. One of Shobha’s earliest memories is of Mumbai’s outdoor markets and trips to the hill towns in Kashmir—where she was mesmerized by the layers of color, costumes and constructions during her visits back to see family. This visual experience stuck with her and has informed, her art work.
During her early childhood, her family spent weekends camping in remote areas of Oregon. For Shobha, nature provides a “home” which is an inclusive, anchoring space. Her time outdoors has strengthened her appreciation for beauty, natural layering and juxtaposition of color and patterns.
Shobha’s deep interest in art developed in parallel with her academic training at Williams College where she majored in Chemistry and Environmental studies. While at Williams, she studied studio art and art history which sparked her artistic instincts that she continued to nourish in parallel with her later work as a Dermatologist.
Shobha has exhibited her work in both solo and group shows. She works out of her studio in NW Portland. Her work is included in public collections in Multnomah County, the City of Portland’s Vanport building and Oregon State University. She has been awarded grants from the RACC and Ford Family Foundation. Shobha was a featured Artist/Speaker for the OHSU Diversity awareness through arts and culture series, 2022. She presented a workshop on the art of observation and compassion for OHSU Dept. of Dermatology at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, PSU. She has participated in the Centrum Artist Residency in Washington, Sitka Center for Art and Ecology, Otis, OR and a 2024 residency at the Chateau d’Orquevaux, France.
Her art reflects a life of dualities –art and science and the bridging of two cultures. There is no place she would rather be.
Statement
I am interested in layers; physical and human. I use art to express my belief that we all have human layers which we live and pass thru every day. Our professional lives, spiritual lives, heritage, emotions and sense of belonging form beautiful layers. Some are fixed and some are permeable, some can be mixed and moved. Other layers are masked. Our true selves are within these layers. I create art with these layers in mind.
I mix realism with abstraction. I work in fluid mediums that leave a visible path of my brushstroke. I work both plein air(outdoors) and in the studio. I start with observations, I use the landscapes, fields, orchards and gardens as my inspiration. As I paint, I often cover areas in multiple layers and allow remnants of underlayers to show through. This adds visual complexity and depth to my work. My technique involves creating edges, smudging and repeating until the balance feels right. It is often a surprise move that makes the image come alive. I try not to miss or overwork this. I want the viewer to see what I’ve defined and use their imagination to complete the painting’s story.
Our layers allow us to adapt and understand our environment, our loved ones and our community. Our wellness and connectivity are shaped by the balance and expression of our intricate human layers. In all my work, I approach art as a place where the intellect and heart meet. I realistically paint what I see, but more importantly, explore ways in which forms, color and layers can evoke emotion and connection.
Shobha works out of her studio in Porland at the NW Marine Artworks building in and participates in biannual Open Studios in June and December.
www.shobhajetmalani.com