Ananth Nayak was born and raised in Mumbai, India and has been enjoying “[the] Bay Area embodi[ment] of rich diversity in art and culture” since 2019. Ananth harnesses several media including ink, watercolor, acrylic, and oil and likens his work to San Francisco’s energy encapsulating elements like distinction, vibrancy, spontaneity, variety, and freshness. ⁠

Ananth creates surreal, highly-detailed ink drawings pulling quotes from public figures and incorporating geometry and the human form. His watercolor work is a bold perspective on traditional techniques with rich colors that exude the vigor of urbanscapes, figures, and some still life. “Before I start committing to paper, I spend an enormous amount of my time visualizing the choice of objects that I will or might use and in composing the drawing entirely in my mind based on the theme that I have decided to use.” Ananth has been able to avoid discarding a drawing or painting and start-over due to a fatal mistake and owes that to his extensive visualization process.⁠

Ananth had his first ever public showing at Farley’s Coffee on Potrero Hill in July 2021 and “the response was simply overwhelming.” Thereafter, he has participated in a couple of group shows at The Ingleside Gallery on Ocean Avenue which also provided a wonderful platform for emerging artists. He is “encouraged by the feedback and the support of the community and has learnt a lot from these opportunities.”⁠

⁠Feature Published: October 29, 2021
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