Five Years of Aprajita.Art: A Journey of Faith, Color & Transformation

July 6, 2020, marked a memorable event in the calendar of my life, the day when I walked away from the world I had known for the past 17 years.

The cost of following my passions came as the risk of leaving behind a successful corporate career and letting go of a stable income. I had stepped into a land where I did not have a professional network, I did not possess a degree in fine arts like other successful artists, nor did I have any gallery representation, or a roadmap, and barely any connections in the art world. Success in such circumstances seemed a far cry.

Yet I had something more powerful than any of this. I had a calling.

The Leap

However, this wasn’t an impulsive decision. The quiet, persistent nudge was always present within me, telling me every day, as a whisper, that I had much more to create. Finally, in 2020, when the world faced a flux, and my heart was yearning with purpose, I decided to take the bold step of listening to it. I finally chose my calling, took the paint brush instead of the briefcase, and became a full-time artist.

The Beginning Was Humble — But Beautiful

I remember my first show very clearly, like it was yesterday. There weren’t crowds or collectors like you would expect; it was just me, my husband, my two daughters, and my sister, who was visiting from India. Although there wasn’t any fanfare, the show meant the world to me; it was the first milestone in this journey that I had taken.

Soon after, I exhibited in my first group gallery show in Tribeca, which was curated by Start Shows. The moment felt surreal. I was one of the 24 artists showcasing their works, and my art was present on the walls of a New York gallery.

But there was something even better than this. It was the friendships and connections I made that night that have lasted even to this day and are blooming. The artists that I met that day became my art family, a support system that I had never expected but now deeply treasure.

It was that night that I finally understood one thing: I had made the right choice, and now there was no going back.

Milestones That Mattered

With a successful exhibition feather on my hat, my journey took off. Next came an incredible event: Creative Artist Magazine featured my story in a 12-page spread. This was a great deal for me, being someone with no formal background in art.

I still remember when a dear friend from my corporate life called and said:

“Can you believe this? You worked in corporate for 17 years and never got a magazine feature — and now here you are, an artist, and you’ve got a full spread in a national publication!”

At that moment, I had a great laugh, yet it also filled me with great pride. It reminded me of a very special thought that sometimes the universe gives you more than what you dared to imagine, when you dare to trust it.

Five Years, Many Colors

Since that leap of faith, my days and years have been full of unexpected experiences. Some days have been slow, with some months being uncertain, when I have had creative doubts and not been able to decide how to proceed. But with the downs, I have also had my fair share of achievements:

• Major art fairs like ArtExpo NYC, Affordable Art Fair, and Volta
   
• A contract with Park West Gallery, one of the largest art dealers in the world
   
• Solo shows, awards, and commissions from around the world
   
• And the honor of being recognized as the Contemporary Artist of the Year
   

Despite all the milestones, what has remained constant within me is the deep humility and immense gratitude, always reminding me that none of it was guaranteed. Yet I managed to achieve it.

Why This Milestone Matters?

July marks the 5-year anniversary of my journey into this world, but it isn’t just about celebrating accomplishments. The anniversary is also about honoring the path, one that began with taking huge risks and uncertainty, and ultimately bloomed into something that I hold deeply in my heart.

It is not all about me, rather it’s about YOU — my collectors, my audience, my art family, who were present as my backbone, supporting me when I had just started out.
 It is also about my family, who believed in me before I believed in myself, and never let me back out.
Above all, it is about the power of joy, resilience, and doing the thing you were meant to do.

Let’s Celebrate Together

However, this is just the start of our celebration, and years yet to come. In the next few days, I will be sharing with you some special memories that remind me of the long way I have come, behind-the-scenes stories, and a heartfelt thank-you gift for my collectors.

Because this isn’t just my celebration — it’s ours. Come along as I celebrate every hue, every brushstroke, and every leap that we take together.

Finally, I express my gratitude to all of you for being a part of my art through the years.

With love and paint,
Aprajita Lal
Art That Brings Happiness