Art made from bodhi leaves and ash trees

When traveling back from India to New Jersey, some people might stuff their suitcases with silk saris or coveted spices, perhaps a book from a bookshop, or some Ayurvedic medicine. For artist Spriha Gupta, that list also includes leaves.

Gupta is a mixed media artist who enjoys using organic forms such as the bark of a tree, tissue paper, flowers, and old fabrics to create vivid pieces that capture the awe-inspiring beauty of nature. She has brought back bodhi leaves from India to incorporate into her pieces, which are sometimes reflections on the loss of our natural surroundings, such as melting glaciers or the disappearing ash trees throughout New Jersey. 

You can find her art in a variety of places around New Jersey, including museums, residential buildings, and even on scarves at the Princeton University Museum Art Store and Grounds for Sculpture. In November, she plans to show some of her work at the Princeton Public Library. Her home base is Princeton Makes, an artist cooperative where she and several dozen artists have studios. 

I caught up with her this spring when her work was on display at the Arts Council of Princeton, and she shared a bit about her journey as an artist.

This interview has been edited and condensed.

Did you always want to be an artist? How did you find your way to it?

Spriha: I have always loved painting and painted more for myself as my form of expression. I did not pursue it, as I felt I had serious responsibilities and being an artist would not help pay the bills. I studied English and then joined NDTV, a television company, where I learned skills like eye for detail, color and movement that led me to understand art even better.

As my kids grew, I felt the need to grow too and get back to my first love: art. When I moved to New Jersey, my basement became my studio, until recently when I got the opportunity to be a part of Princeton Makes.

What stands out to me about your series, ”Logged Out” and ”Second Life”, is the use of natural materials to make a statement about nature. How did that become a theme for you?

Spriha: I think if somebody asked me where I’m the happiest, I would always say, in nature. As I grew older, I realized that it's a really big part of me; it gives me a lot of peace, calm, and happiness. Also, seeing that the environment around us was getting impacted, I began to ask: ‘How can I make a difference?’ I guess this is my way of communicating and giving back in whichever way I can. 

It seems like the art is not just about nature, but that it’s saying something about it. What are you trying to convey?

Spriha: We've been gifted with something that's so beautiful, and all we humans do most of the time is take things and ruin things. I'm just trying to make a statement, saying that this is where we're going if we don't stop and look at things and kind of do our bit, whether recycling or upcycling, it's just getting to know and be appreciative of what you have.

You’ve had some great success. What was it like when you first put your art out there?

Spriha: Initially, it was scary. I received some interesting comments from people that were not very encouraging. One thing you learn is that we shouldn't judge ourselves by what people are saying around us. You have to know why you're creating art and what it does for you and the community around you. If it brings them happiness and brings you happiness, that’s what truly matters. 

Have you found more support through your artist cooperative?

Spriha: When I joined this community, I learned how supportive and kind people can be. We regularly share resources and help each other out. If I'm preparing for a show on the weekend and need a tablecloth or easels, everyone jumps in to help. While we love having a space to sell art and meet people—where they can even see us working—the whole point of that space is more community-driven than just a venue to sell art.

Is anything about your childhood in India or your culture reflected in your art?

Spriha: I think the colors that I use are very much reflective of Rajasthan. My dad's from Jaipur, so I've seen a lot of color, and there's always been a lot of art and culture in our family. Everything that I've absorbed is in my subconscious. When I paint, I very rarely reach for pastels or really light colors.

I’m driven by what I want to make. I might go for a walk, find a beautiful branch or piece of wood, and then ask myself: ‘How do I use this in my piece?’

As an artist and a Desi woman in America, do you find that you are one of many? Or if you went to a gathering of Indian people, would you be the odd one out?

Spriha: I think people are pretty fascinated when they hear that I'm an artist. And so far, everybody that I've met has been very positive. I've just joined a group of Desi artists, and I didn’t know there were so many of them!

Sharing my art with the community has given me a chance to learn, grow and share so much more with people and fellow artists around me.

Learn more about Spriha at her art site, or visit her at Princeton Makes.

Ambreen Ali is the founding editor of Central Desi.

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