ARTIST STATEMENT If energy were a color, contemporary painter Kitty Parakh would know how to mix it.  Along with exuberant color, Kitty’s bold, expressionistic style of painting brings abstractions to life.  Her art shows the depth and quality of her thinking, reflecting an awareness of life as both brilliant and fragile. Kitty Parakh was born in Calcutta, India in 1950. Her maternal grandfather was a sculptor and she grew up demonstrating an aptitude for artistic expression.  She came to the United States in 1988 with her husband and children and earned her M.A. in Fine Arts from Marshall University in West Virginia.  While there, she exhibited in a number of places and was very involved in the arts community.  She moved to New Orleans in 2001 where she continues to paint, show her work and share ideas with other artists.  She draws inspiration from her Indian heritage, as well as from nature, life experiences and travel.  Before beginning a painting, Kitty thinks, reads, doodles, daydreams images – in fact, her mental preparation is the hallmark of her approach to abstract art.  The more abstract the painting, the more time she spends mulling over the direction it will take.  The complexity of her thinking and preparation is hidden beneath the simplicity of the painted image on canvas.   For Kitty, art is a process from which all people can gain insight.  To make a visual connection with the viewer is her reason for painting.  For those who enjoy her work, her paintings stand the test of time – creating a feeling of “Aha!” or “Wow, I like it!” that continues from year to year.  Kitty Parakh invites you to share in her world. “I want you to know my energy, my thoughts and ideas and see the creative process in the image itself.” BIOGRAPHY Born in Calcutta, India, in 1950, Kitty Parakh has always felt a special connection with the fine arts. Her maternal grandfather was a sculptor in his own right and she grew up demonstrating an aptitude for artistic expression. Despite this, family took precedence, and she took to art again after she moved to the United States in 1988. She received her M.A. in Fine Arts from Marshall University, Huntington, WV. Her advisor, Stanley Sporny is a well known landscapist and professor. During her stay in Charleston, WV, she exhibited in several group and juried shows in the states of West Virginia and Kentucky including the Sunrise Museum at Charleston, WV, the Oglebay Institute’s Stifel Fine Arts Center at Wheeling WV and the West Virginia Division of Culture and History at Charleston. In 1998, she had a solo exhibition in the Sunrise Museum’s Annex at the Bank One Lobby, Charleston, WV. In 2001, she moved to New Orleans and has since participated in many group showings. She was Vice President of the Allied Artists of West Virginia (2000-2001) and Secretary of Main St. Studio in Hurricane, WV. She is a member of the National League of American Women, Inc. (Washington, DC), the New Orleans Arts Association and the New Orleans West Bank Art Guild. Her art visually depicts strong symbolical representations, abstractions with emphasis on color. RESUME Juried Exhibits of Recent Works · Art with a Southern Drawl, University of Alabama, Mobil, AL 2004 · St. Mary Arts & Humanities Council, LA  2004 1st Place Mixed Media · Morgan City Art Show, Morgan City, LA 2003 1st Place Mixed Media (Juror Rene Ghirardi) · Artists Guild Unlimited, Morgan City, LA 2003 2nd Place Mixed Media, 3rd Place Oils (Juror Sara Parker) · Slidell Art League,  41st Regional Juried Exhibition (Juror Susan Brunner) Slidell, LA 2003 · Terrybone Fine Arts Guild, Houma, LA 2003 Creative Award & Merit Awards. · West Bank Art Guild, New Orleans, LA 2003, 2002 First, Second places. · Crescent City Brewhouse, West Bank Guild, New Orleans, LA 2003 · Cardinal Valley Show,  Ashland, KY  2000, 1999 and 1995 with Merit Awards · Allied Artists Exhibit,  Sunrise Museum, Charleston, WV  1998 · The Town House Gallery Show,  Sistersville, WV  1998 & 1996 · The Juried Show at the Cultural Center,  Charleston, WV  1997 · Crosscurrents, Wheeling, WV  1997 Private Exhibitions · Private Exhibit, Ochsner Art Foundation, New Orleans, LA – 2004. · Solo Exhibit, Galerie Royale, New Orleans, LA – 2004. · Private Group Show: La Petite XI, Alder Gallery – Coburg, OR – 2004. · Private Group Show: Abstractions – New Orleans, LA - 2003. · Neutral Grounds Coffee House, New Orleans, LA - 2002. · Tamarack, David L. Dickirson Gallery, Beckley, WV - 2001, 1999. · Main Street Studio,  Hurricane, WV - 2000, 1999. · University of Charleston,  Charleston, WV - 2000, 1998. · Sunrise Downtown at Bank One,  Charleston,  WV - 2000, 1998 (solo exhibitions). · Carnegie Hall,  Lewisberg, WV - 2000, 1998. · Marshall University,  Huntington, WV - 1997. · Roger Lucas Gallery,  Charleston, WV - 1998, 1997. · One Valley Bank,  Charleston, WV - 1998. Represented by Galerie Royale, New Orleans, LA www.galerieroyale.com Agora Gallery, New Orleans, LA Experience · Art Instructor at Holtz Elementary School · Workshops with Jack Beal, Shirley Campbell, Frank Webb, Alex Powers, Al Stine and Auseklis Ozols Professional Membership · Allied Artists of West Virginia. (Vice President 2000-1) · Tri-State Art Society, West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky · Main Street Studio, Hurricane WV (Secretary 1998-2001) · The National League of American Pen Women, Inc. Washington, DC · Artina – Westbank, New Orleans · West Bank Art Guild, New Orleans · New Orleans Arts Association · New Orleans Arts Council · Cider Painters of America (miniature art) · National League of American Penn Women Education · 1997  MA Fine Arts (painting major) - Marshall University, Huntington, WV. · 1994  BA Fine Arts - WV State College. · 1984  MA English Literature - Bhopal University, Bhopal, India. · 1970  BA (Honors) Education – Calcutta University, Calcutta, India.   return to top of page