Makers Among Us.....Indian Artist Ajay Garg

Meet Ajay Garg.

This is an artist with an inspirational story on many levels.  First and foremost, he is an  extremely accomplished painter, specializing in Indian miniature paintings.  These incredibly detailed, colorful celebrations of traditional and contemporary Indian culture are fascinating.  Ajay may paint his works in part with a brush of a single hair, using a magnifying glass to control his intricate placement of paint. Paintings can take from five days to as much as six months to finish.  His work recently evolved to include tiny figures painted on an almond or a kernel of rice. The skill, the control, and the beauty combine in a staggeringly unique kind of work.  Ajay's work is internationally recognized and exhibited and he is an award-winning artist many times over.

The inspiring story has another chapter.  When he suffered a severe allergic reaction to medication at age three, Ajay’s speech and hearing abilities were lost, and he has been without those capabilities into adulthood.   As he progressed through childhood, his pleasure in painting was encouraged by his parents and his skill attracted attention in art competitions.  Ajay studied with Indian master artists and became accomplished in his own right.  His work is famous in India and  has begun to receive recognition in the United States and the UK. He is active in the deaf community and in providing free education for deaf children. He inspires both as an artist and as a symbol of hope for great accomplishments  and in triumph over  great obstacles. 

Ajay lives in Jaipur, India, with his wife and two children, and he visited his brother, Vijay Garg, of Sammamish a few months ago. This Sammamish connection has proved lucky for us.   Vijay is representing his brother’s work at the upcoming Sammamish Arts Fair, October 13^th and 14^th, to share the hopefulness of his story and the incredible beauty of Ajay’s artwork.   

Vijay is a remarkable spokesman for his brother, and provides another kind of inspiration.  Makers need the support of family, friends and those who love art in order to be successful.  When you come to the arts fair, be sure to visit with Vijay to thank him for bringing Ajay`s message and art works to us!  Fair details and examples of Ajay`s work can be found at http://sammamishartsfair.wordpress.com/.