Born and raised in Varanasi, India by my grandmother and then moved to US in 2001 at the age of 31 for the postdoctoral research training at the University of Missouri at Columbia followed by the University of Illinois at Chicago. I have been very much inspired especially for human emotions at the very beginning of my childhood. For short time I worked for the local newspaper as a cartoonist but continued at the local Radio station (Akashvani, Varanasi) as a sport analyst covering national and international sports for straight eight years. After the long 20 plus years in the scientific research in United States, in 2017-18, I accidently started oil painting to restore my energy and the required focus. In this process my artwork journey has been truly magical and powerful in a way to release the stress, meeting new artists, getting support from friends, and even enhancing my scientific skills and fostering collaborations.
Earlier, this year I had an honor to display my first art gallery in this country at the Downers Grove public library. I have also done commissioned artwork at various levels and in fact this year I have also gotten an opportunity to paint shop windows on Fall/Halloween theme for the City of Westmont. I have also been involved in donating my artwork in the fund-raising events ranging - from Jammin with Professors (CCOM scholarships), Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA), Saint Baldrick’s Day and for the Saint Jude’s Cancer Research.
I earned my PhD in Biotechnology back in India and currently serve as a tenured faculty member (Associate Professor) in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology at Midwestern University in Downers Grove. I am also faculty adviser for “The Arts in Medicine Club” at Midwestern University which provides an excellent platform for our students to shine and do well in the community services.
My mission via art has been largely to bring smile and inspire the community (CCOM Scholarship, the blind community, the Orphans, Children with disabilities and the homeless population) including helping out the rehabilitation of orphaned infant elephants in Africa (Sheldrick Wildlife Trust), and for the last 3-4 years I have been actively raising money via my artwork and likely to continue my passion to do so.
Earlier, this year I had an honor to display my first art gallery in this country at the Downers Grove public library. I have also done commissioned artwork at various levels and in fact this year I have also gotten an opportunity to paint shop windows on Fall/Halloween theme for the City of Westmont. I have also been involved in donating my artwork in the fund-raising events ranging - from Jammin with Professors (CCOM scholarships), Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA), Saint Baldrick’s Day and for the Saint Jude’s Cancer Research.
I earned my PhD in Biotechnology back in India and currently serve as a tenured faculty member (Associate Professor) in the Department of Microbiology & Immunology at Midwestern University in Downers Grove. I am also faculty adviser for “The Arts in Medicine Club” at Midwestern University which provides an excellent platform for our students to shine and do well in the community services.
My mission via art has been largely to bring smile and inspire the community (CCOM Scholarship, the blind community, the Orphans, Children with disabilities and the homeless population) including helping out the rehabilitation of orphaned infant elephants in Africa (Sheldrick Wildlife Trust), and for the last 3-4 years I have been actively raising money via my artwork and likely to continue my passion to do so.
