“I Had to Create My Own Space”: An Artist Interview with Nimisha Doongarwal

Nimisha Doongarwal
Jun 23
2 min read

Updated: Jun 26

🌟 Why This Interview Matters :

I’m thrilled to share that I was recently interviewed by Sfumato Art Magazine for their June issue. This wasn’t just another artist profile , it was a deep, vulnerable conversation about belonging, voice, and what it means to create from the spaces in between.

Whether you’re an artist, a storyteller, a collector, or someone navigating your own in-between space, I hope this gives you something in return, something to reflect on, feel connected to, or simply enjoy.

📚 What You’ll Find in This Interview:

How I shifted from a science background to a life in art
What it’s like to navigate the art world as an immigrant artist and women of color
Why I stopped chasing validation, and how that changed my creative path
How rejection became one of my greatest teachers
The role of storytelling, collage, and textiles in reclaiming erased voices
What “success” means now (hint: it’s not about awards or visibility)

🖼 Full Artist Interview – As Featured in

Sfumato Art Magazine

Link to Sfumato art Magazine, if you are interested in buying the magazine.

💡 Behind the Work: A Few Thoughts I Didn’t Get to Say in the Interview

Art has always been more than aesthetics for me, it’s about inviting others in. Through layering, stitching, and collage, I aim to create spaces that feel both deeply personal and strangely familiar. My hope is that viewers don’t just “see” my work, but feel something from it.

We live in a world that constantly asks us to prove ourselves. My practice is a quiet resistance to that: an offering of truth, memory, and presence, without needing to explain or justify it.

More on my process www.nimishart.com/process & https://www.nimishart.com/post/mixed-media-art-process-nimisha-doongarwal

✨ Why This Matters ?

The stories behind artwork add value. They deepen emotional connection and remind us why we collect, support, and live with art in the first place.

By sharing these layers of identity, migration, culture, and healing, I’m not just telling my story. I’m opening a door for others to reflect on theirs.

💌 Let’s Stay Connected

If you enjoyed this interview, or if you’ve been curious about how artists build meaning into their work, I’d love to have you in my circle.

I send out stories like this, behind-the-scenes peeks into my creative process, early looks at new collections, and thoughts I don’t usually share publicly.