Life & Work with Jeena Raghavan of New York City

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeena Raghavan

Hi Jeena, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My journey with art began in London. I remember drawing on napkins at restaurants as a child, and even on the walls of my home. Instead of discouraging me, my mom was always supportive—she’d say it was okay to use that wall, and I’d cheekily ask, “Only 1 wall?” One of my earliest memories of realizing I had something special with art was when I was 8 years old. I was at a restaurant, drawing on paper napkins as usual, when a friend of my parents—an art collector—saw one of my drawings of a young female figure. He said there was something unique about it, that my work had a quality of movement, and that moment stuck with me.

From that young age, I’ve been captivated by the natural world—flora and fauna. I’ve always been intrigued by the similarities between humans and animals in terms of instinct, intuition, and primal needs. But there’s also something uniquely refined about humans, a contrast I like to explore in my work through vibrant color and textures.

A major influence for me is color itself—vivid, striking palettes that remind me of my global upbringing, particularly my time in India. Colors for me represent boldness and a richness of culture. My first experience displaying my art was at 13, when I had a solo show in London featuring 30 paintings inspired by the Indian deity Ganesha. Half the proceeds went to charity, and it was a defining moment for me, realizing how art could create an impact and connect with others.

Moving to India brought even more vibrancy into my work. The vivid colors and contrasts of the country, combined with my travels across India, where I encountered spirituality and traditional fabrics, further shaped my artistic vision.

It took some time to break into the art scene in New York. My undergrad experience at the Parsons School of Design had me super familiar with the city, but it was very different living there as a working professional. I spent about two years in my studio, with the first 10 months focused on developing what I felt was my best work. Still, it was tough—at first, there wasn’t much interest from galleries or clients, but eventually, with persistence, I started getting a lot of studio visits that eventually led to show opportunities. I began with a group show in Chelsea at this beautiful space, exhibiting alongside 99 other artists.

One of my most memorable and exciting art show experiences, was when I had my first solo show in New York, at a gallery in the West Village. 250 people had RSVP’d but a terrible storm hit the city, and many of them messaged me saying they couldn’t make it. I was very disappointed, however to my surprise the storm didn’t stop New Yorkers, 150 people still showed up that night. I sold my first two pieces from my series that night, and it was a powerful reminder of why there’s no place like New York.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It’s definitely not entirely been a smooth road. It’s funny looking back because during high school, I received a D in art for my A-levels, because I wasn’t able to show the progress and prep work for my final painting. It was a complete shock at the time, especially since a London-based collector had previously praised my work. This disparity was a tough pill to swallow but also a reminder that traditional measures don’t always capture an artist’s true potential.

Fortunately, despite this setback, Parsons accepted me based on my portfolio. I was both stunned and incredibly grateful for this opportunity. After graduating from Parsons, I worked at an art gallery in Soho for a while, and then spent time during COVID developing more of my technique and exploring different themes. I moved back to NYC after the pandemic settled down, where I have now lived for a total of 8 years, including my undergraduate time.

I’d spend days working on my pieces, feeling like I was producing some of my best work, but it was discouraging when there was little initial interest.
There were many moments of doubt and frustration. I started to work more intensely on my pieces and told myself that its not about who see’s your work but how you’re improving as an artist.

I took classes at the Student Arts League on the Upper West Side and continued to attend gallery openings. It was during one of these events that I met someone who worked at a gallery in the city. Through them, I was introduced to their friend organizing a major group show in Chelsea that featured 100 artists. That experience was a turning point for me. Being part of that show opened doors to more opportunities, and from there, I slowly got into other exhibitions across the city. In the past year, my work has been featured in 14 exhibitions in New York and one in Madrid. Selling my art to clients in the US, London, Singapore, and India has been an energizing experience for me. I’m currently working on a new series and have some shows lined up in NYC for the last half of the year.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I’m a painter. I work with oil & acrylic on canvas. I explore identity, self-reflection, and emotional expression, focusing on how color and texture move through my work. By combining various bright colors with detailed layers, my art balances between figurative and abstract styles. I like looking at the deep, primal connections between humans and animals and their links to human psychology. My paintings are intuitive and often feel like layered self-portraits sometimes rooted in instinct and self-awareness.

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
A lot of credit goes to my parents for supporting and encouraging me to delve deep into my art. I have also met some amazing curators, artists, musicians and photographers in NYC and LA. They inspire me everyday and, some of them have even become close friends. It’s always great to meet other creatives and hear their stories and perspectives on the world.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://jeenaraghavan.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jeeninabottle/?hl=en