Daughter of the Earth
Pragati Sharma Mohanty
Exhibition: June 24 – August 15, 2026
Opening Reception: Saturday, June 27, 1pm-3pm
Location: South Gallery
Gallery Hours: Wednesday-Saturday, 10am-4pm
The galleries will be closed Saturday, July 4, 2026.
Richmond Art Center, 2540 Barrett Avenue, Richmond, CA 94804
Daughter of the Earth is Pragati Sharma Mohanty’s retelling of the Ramayana through her signature ‘maximalist-miniaturist’ storytelling style. Developed over six years of research, drawing, and layered detailing, Pragati’s work reinterprets stories from the Ramayana through a contemporary lens while honoring its heroes and the narrative traditions that have carried the epic across generations. Pragati paints in gouache and acrylic on laser-cut rice paper, collaged onto highly detailed backdrops with flora, fauna and architecture – a method she pioneered to give herself the freedom to shift compositions and use repeated motifs across a large, interconnected body of work. The exhibition also includes sculptural works and an interactive installation that extend the paintings into space, immersing viewers in the narrative of the Ramayana.
About the Artist: Pragati Sharma Mohanty is an artist born and raised in India whose work draws on folklore, history, and the visual traditions of her cultural heritage. With a background in architecture and design, she brings a strong structural sensibility to her practice, creating intricate, layered narrative compositions. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture from the Faculty of Architecture, Lucknow and a Master of Industrial Design from the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad. Pragati has exhibited her work widely, including solo exhibitions at Palo Alto Arts Center, Charter Oak Cultural Center (Hartford), and Sattology (San Diego). She is also the founder of Pragati Art School, where she teaches Indian folk art traditions. The school serves as both a creative learning space and a cultural home for immigrant communities, offering a supportive environment where personal memory, heritage, and artistic practice intersect.
Image: Detail of work by Pragati Sharma
