I have grown taller from walking with the trees

Address

1002 Commerce St
Houston, TX 77002

Details

Artist: Preetika Rajgariah

Rajgariah draws from the Ashoka tree, a symbol of wisdom and healing in eastern philosophies, weaving its leaves throughout a panorama depicting figures in contemplative moments - resting, climbing, gathering, and opening to knowledge. The textures are intimate and intentional, yoga mats and sari fabric sourced from Houston's South Asian community, scanned and layered into the work. The title, pulled from a Yogi Tea bag, grounds it in the everyday and the spiritual all at once.

About the Artist

Preetika Rajgariah (b. 1985, New Delhi, India) is a queer multidisciplinary artist exploring intersections of cultural identity, queerness, nostalgia, and consumerism. Drawing from her experience as an Indian-born, Texas-raised American, her work blends personal and societal narratives.

Rajgariah has participated in residencies at the Momentary, Oxbow, ACRE, Vermont Studio Center, and the School of Visual Arts. Her work has been exhibited internationally, including at Material Art Fair, Untitled Miami Basel, Asia Society Texas Center, and Diverseworks. She received her MFA from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Rajgariah currently lives and works in Houston, Texas, where she continues to expand her multidisciplinary practice.