Backstage

This article was written by Kathleen Kim

Neera Dahiya is not afraid to get in touch with her emotions—or to arouse those in others. Influenced by her experiences and observations of human interaction and existence, Dahiya paints stirring abstract narratives that unlock and explore our inner most feelings.

The inspiration for her art is rooted in her globetrotting life. Dahiya was born and raised in Boblingen, Germany and studied in India before moving to the United States. After living in Pittsburgh and San Francisco, she ventured into the neighborhood of Tribeca in New York City, where she currently resides and works as a full time artist. “I’ve traveled so much and been exposed to so many cultures and so many people,” she says. “My experience has been that people are very deep and have multiple layers to them, as their emotions.” Dahiya peels away those layers to reveal complex feelings connected to specific human situations.

Before the self-taught artist started painting professionally, she studied business and practiced medicine. And while she says she has always possessed a natural affinity for painting, it wasn’t until just two years ago that she firmly set foot into the art world. Fueled by her desire to cultivate her lifelong hobby, Dahiya left her career as a physician to focus on painting.