Nimisha Doongarwal, an artist, always tells her story and experience through her paintings. She is originally from Gwalior, India but presently living in San Francisco (US). She works as a Software Engineer but also creates and sells professional art works. Her mother's paintings served as an inspiration to her as she grew up. Nimisha discovered early on how much she loves painting portraits. This article highlights Nimisha's inspirational journey in the world of Art.

Nimisha’s Art Journey

In an all out conversation with UdaipurTimes, Nimisha said that she used to watch her mother paint right from when she was a child. She used to copy her mother's paintings. Her mother used to make beautiful Rajasthani paintings. Most of her paintings are inspired by colonization or the colonial period. 

Nimisha has been into professional painting since 2014. She studied at Academy of Arts University for her Master of Fine Arts. She stated that in order to get where she is now, she had made risky decisions throughout her life. She currently works as a Software Engineer in San Francisco and creates artwork as well. She enjoys painting still life, landscapes, and abstracts. 

Palace of Fine Arts

Nimisha_Golden

Her Success story

Recognition by Forbes Magazine: In the year 2020, Nimisha Doongarwal displayed her artwork in San Francisco. There were 25 participating artists in this exhibition, and Nimisha was among the six women who made it to the shortlist.The exhibition, titled "Reflection on Home," which debuted in Oakland, California, showcased the creations of immigrant artists, each of whom expressed a perspective on home and belongings. "Immigrant Identity" is the title of Nimisha's artwork. 

Portrait of Colonization

Nimisha being an Indian immigrant to the US, she became motivated to produce more artwork after the Forbes Magazine US recognised her work. She officially began her career as an artist at that moment. She claims that she can change society and raise issues of social awareness via her art. Her post-colonial mixed-media works are collections of fragments, including paintings, photos, fabrics, and digital prints.

Fighter Without Race

“There is a visible prejudice against immigrants in multicultural societies, fostering public resistance to immigration and negative intergroup attitudes. This attitude can cause discriminatory behaviors and sometimes erupts into violence.” - Nimisha

De Young Museum

Nimisha's painting Portrait of USA 2020 was selected by the De Young Museum. Nimisha says that this is on of her favorite paintings. Nimisha shared the story behind this painting.  She claims to have depicted a scene from 2020, a time when COVID was rampant and several crises were occurring in the USA. A black man shot by the police and this was a big news in 2020 in the USA. The news was on every news channel that time. she painted this scenario in her painting. 

Portrait of USA 2020

Her message through the painting: The artwork portrays the current society we live in. The current society in which discrimination occurs based on physical appearances and skin color.

She added, that in the society we live in, people are evaluated based on their culture and skin color. She hopes to remove the evil social problems that have existed since ages via her artworks.

Her artwork Painting of USA 2020 was chosen by the De Young Museum from 25,000 applicants. There were 1,100 artists chosen, and Nimisha was one of them. She was motivated once again by the De Young Museum's acknowledgment. 

People For Change Series 

The work examines the various connections between historical and popular culture while making reference to the gender inequity that the globe has endured for generations. These are the images of role models who, like superheroes, are battling for gender equality and motivating the world to change. Each photograph tells a different tale by providing visual connections to the issues each of these people supported.

Love is Power

Education is the Real Weapon

Beauty is Within You

Make Love Not War

Recently her work Lets Be Notorious was selected by UCSF National Center of Excellence in Women's Health. Her work was used on postcards.

Lets be Notorious

Her present work

As part of her Portrait of Climate Change Series, Nimisha is now illustrating how climate change is affecting animals and how many species are already facing the risk of extinction.

Nimisha examines the various connections between current culture and popular culture by making references to it. Each image tells a different tale by providing a visual connection to reality and history. She gives her portraits a new, abstract identity that highlights the cultural and traditional blending that people have experienced throughout history. Through her art, she hopes to promote acceptance of cultural variety and lessen prejudice against various racial, ethnic, religious, and physical characteristics-based groups.

Nimisha has been highlighted in publications and magazines like Forbes, Maake, and Artmarket. She has also participated in exhibitions at places like the De Young Museum, Brown University, San Francisco International Airport, San Mateo City Hall, San Mateo Library, Oakland Asian Cultural Center, and Museum of Northern California.  Even though Nimisha is an Engineer by profession, she still considers herself an artist at heart. She claims that painting brings her peace and that she expresses her feelings through art.