Anisha Verma
Anisha comes from a family full of creatives, and she’s continuing that tradition in her own way. I met her at the All Stars Art Show by Start Shows in July. After the show, a few of us went out for dinner together, which gave us the chance to talk more about her work and some of the techniques she likes to experiment with.
Anisha moved to New York from India in 2018 to pursue painting more seriously. Over time, she’s explored a lot of different styles and mediums. Recently, she’s been focusing on realism using acrylic paints, but her earlier work shows how much she enjoys experimenting. She’s worked with watercolors, textured pieces where she painted over clay, and subjects ranging from portraits to nature. When she showed me photos of some of her previous work, it was clear she’s someone who can take almost anything and turn it into a canvas.
She told me about one piece she made from a washed-up wooden plank she found. Instead of throwing it away, she brought it home, carved it down, and painted two different scenes on each side. One side showed a beach sunset, while the other was a portrait. What made it interesting was how she followed the natural curve of the wood as she painted. Another piece she showed me was painted directly onto photo paper that had originally been meant for a framed display. It showed how comfortable she is working with whatever material she has in front of her.
Creativity runs deep in her family. Her mother is a painter as well, and the two of them often share their work with each other. According to Anisha, they constantly go back and forth, saying the other person is the better artist. Her grandmother is also incredibly creative—she described her as someone who can make anything out of nothing, whether it’s food, clothing, or art. Her brother studies architectural design, and while her father doesn’t paint himself, he helps support the family’s creative projects and often contributes ideas. It seems like everyone in her family finds a way to express themselves through making something.
When we met again for a one-on-one photoshoot in her home studio, I realized pretty quickly that she doesn’t actually have a dedicated studio space. Instead, she paints on the living room floor. She told me that she usually works late at night when everything is quiet and she can have time to herself. Sometimes she’ll stay up until the early morning just painting or drawing. Once she finishes, everything gets packed away so neatly that you’d never know a painting session had just taken place. All of her materials are stored in a small closet in the corner of the room.
When I asked her what she likes to paint the most, she told me it’s whatever idea happens to come to mind. She feels like when an idea appears, she has to start working on it right away before it gets buried by the next one. As she works on a piece, those other ideas often find their way into the painting as well. Right now, she’s working on a new collection that she plans to show at a future art show once it’s complete.
Anisha is someone who is constantly learning and experimenting. She’s part of a long line of artists in her family, and she’s continuing that tradition in her own voice. With the number of ideas she has and the way she approaches her work, I have no doubt she’ll keep creating interesting things for a long time.
