Statement

Growing up as a daughter of two artists, I always engaged in creative projects. However, I channeled my creativity mostly into an engineering career. It was only after my life took a sharp turn with a devastating accident that left me paralyzed that I really started painting, rediscovering a new way to live, seeking solace and strength through every stroke of my paintbrush.

These paintings became more than just art for me; they became a place to reflect, dream and escape. I feel my art portrays the stories and emotions we all share—moments of joy, resilience, and connection. Each piece is inspired by the beauty in the everyday, inviting everyone to pause and find their own meaning in these visuals. Through these paintings, I hope to spark a shared sense of connection, a feeling that no matter where we are or what we’re facing, we’re all part of the same colorful, messy, and beautiful story.

Bio

Arpita Kurdekar holds a Ph.D. in the Integrative Studies Program from the University of Connecticut where her doctoral research focused on exploring the innovative use of virtual reality in interdisciplinary education, specifically integrating engineering and art to nurture creativity in students.

Arpita is an avid oil painter, and her work has been featured in multiple groups and solo exhibitions in Connecticut and Massachusetts. Her determination to overcome physical obstacles due to her disability to pursue her love for painting has led her to find alternative ways to create art by attaching a brush to a splint and using a joystick-controlled mobile easel. She believes her fight to navigate these challenges has become the driving undercurrent for her painting subject-matter and style. Most recently, her work was exhibited in the Connecticut Women Artists, Inc. (CWA) National Juried Exhibition, where she was presented with the Juror’s Award for her painting, “The Boy and the Pelicans.” Her other art exhibitions were at Bromfield Gallery, and Abigail Ogilvy Gallery in Boston MA, Five Points Gallery in Torrington CT, Arts Center East Gallery in Vernon CT, Mansfield Community Center in Storrs CT, Dye and Bleach House Gallery in Willington CT, Faber Birren National Color Award Show at the Stamford Art Association Townhouse Gallery in Stamford CT, and WORK_SPACE Galleries in Manchester CT. Her story and art has also been featured in the UConn Today magazine.

Arpita's educational background includes a Master's in Bridge Engineering from the University at Buffalo in New York and a Bachelor's in Civil Engineering from Sinhgad College of Engineering in India. She has pursued learning art at the University of Connecticut and mostly through curious self-exploration.