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Honoring Meera Agarwal

The Rye Arts Center is incredibly proud to present Meera Agarwal with our first-ever Visionary Artist Award — a new annual honor recognizing an artist whose work has made a significant impact on the community, sparked inspiration, and helped sustain a vibrant local art scene. Meera was formally honored at our Annual Spring Benefit, Studio 51 at The Capitol Theatre, on May 4, 2024.

About Meera:

Meera Agarwal, a self-taught local artist and passionate art instructor, creates captivating oil, acrylic, and mixed media works that can be seen throughout Westchester and Fairfield counties. With a keen eye for both figurative and abstract forms, her colorful, award-winning paintings draw inspiration from nature’s marvels, diverse locales, and human stories.

Her art is regularly featured in prominent exhibits across the tri-state area, and she is a certified Art-o-Mat artist—contributing to art vending machines nationwide, including the Art-o-Mat at The Rye Arts Center.

Meera recently expanded into public art through The Rye Arts Center’s Rye’sAbove butterfly installation and the Rye Poetry Path, continuing her mission to make art accessible and community-centered.

Previously a tech public relations specialist in Silicon Valley, Meera has been pursuing a second career as a visual artist and art instructor for the past decade. She volunteers with numerous local non-profits including The Rye Arts Center, the Jay Heritage Center, and the India Cultural Center Greenwich (Westchester & Fairfield). Born in Chennai, India, she holds a Bachelor's in Management Studies from the Birla Institute of Technology & Science (BITS), Pilani, India, and a Master’s in Corporate & Public Communications from Seton Hall University in New Jersey.

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Artist Statement

“My paintings are inspired by places, people, and our collective stories. I’m equally inspired by nature and everyday marvels of colors, textures, and light effects that we experience. My story is definitely a tale of two states (of mind) — my life as an American and my Indian roots. I paint as a response to a spontaneous feeling or the sheer beauty of a subject, and that is reflected in my choice of diverse subjects, styles, techniques, and compositions. Invariably, some paintings tend to have a connection to the verve and vibrancy of India.

Through my abstract and representational paintings, I strive to evoke an emotional and introspective experience for viewers. Each brushstroke and color choice is an expression of my inner world, translating intangible thoughts and emotions into tangible visual forms. My work is a reflection of the duality inherent in our existence — the interplay between the tangible and the intangible, the known and the unknown. It is an exploration of the multifaceted nature of human experience, inviting viewers to pause, reflect, and find their own narratives within the layers of each piece.

Ultimately, my goal is to create a visual language that transcends words and resonates with the viewer’s emotions, memories, and imagination. I hope my paintings serve as a medium for introspection, allowing individuals to find solace, inspiration, and a renewed sense of wonder in the interplay of abstraction and representation.”
— Meera Agarwal

The Visionary Artist Award

This annual award celebrates individuals who exude an innovative spirit and personify the transformative power of the arts. Whether through captivating visual art, multimedia installations, immersive experiences, or thought-provoking performances, recipients of the Visionary Artist Award inspire awe and ignite imagination.

The award recognizes not only past achievements but also encourages recipients to continue pushing boundaries and fearlessly pursuing their artistic vision. It’s a tribute to the enduring power of art to inspire, provoke, and transform the world around us.

Meera Agarwal’s Artwork on View in Rye

To further honor her vision and impact, Meera’s work was showcased in two major exhibitions during the summer and fall of 2024:

Explore the Legacy

Scroll down to view past and present recipients of the Visionary Artist Award and discover the artists shaping our cultural future.