Artist Profile: Saheli Khastagir
Overview
In birthings & hangings, behind closed blinds, Saheli Khastagir crafts a deeply symbolic and emotionally charged composition, where themes of vulnerability, tension, and transformation intersect. The striking imagery—a suspended, bleeding heart, a climbing lizard, and a glass of wine accompanied by wilting flowers—invokes a dreamlike narrative of longing, resilience, and the unseen struggles that unfold in private spaces.
The delicate interplay of shadows and light behind the blinds suggests the concealed nature of personal experiences, emphasizing the duality of exposure and secrecy. The artist’s meticulous use of acrylic paints lends a raw, expressive texture to the work, reinforcing the tension between life, loss, and renewal.
Khastagir’s ability to blend realism with abstraction invites the viewer to decipher the emotional landscape within the painting, questioning what remains hidden behind the barriers we create—both literal and metaphorical.
Featured Artwork Vault Bushwick Gallery
Artwork Title: birthings & hangings, behind closed blinds
Year of Creation: 2016
Medium: Acrylic on Canvas
Dimensions: 26 x 30 x 1 inches
Current Location: Washington, DC