Featured Member: Soma Vajpayee

I am the first art therapist that my practice has hired. I hope that more and more art therapists are incorporated in Clinical and medical space as a part of the treatment provided for mental health seekers. 

I feel that art therapists are not treasured enough or paid their due. I wish that there is that change in this world, so that art therapists are not burnt out doing 2-3 jobs to sustain themselves. I wish that we stand strong as a tribe and support each other.

My art explores the eternal within the ephemeral. In our lives, we vividly remember moments of peace, rejuvenation, energy, hope, and love. When memory strips out the cognitive deluge of our time, a feeling lingers even as the details retreat. How we feel about sights, moments and experiences define our memories, which become anchors in our lives.

My experiences with art have helped me find solace during challenging times. During the first months of Covid-19, I painted 100 pieces in 100 days, and I remember the process of creation as grounding, reflective experience in those days.

In New York, I live with my family in a community that is diverse which has helped me increase my awareness of different cultures. Being Indian by origin, having lived in different parts of the world, and bringing up children of my own in this country helps me understand nuanced points of view of cultures and ethnicities. My experiences have exposed me to the evolving conversations around race, diversity, and social justice. I have pursued higher studies and worked in India and Hong Kong before moving to the States, and in the last 5 years I have earned a Masters in Art therapy. In my practice, I find being attuned to cultural and social justice issues enhances my ability to create a safe and inclusive space for clients from various backgrounds.

Is there anything you would like to share? 

In my life as an artist, I discovered a sanctuary of healing within the realm of colors and forms. That’s what I wanted to share with the world when I started the journey to become an art therapist.

Shedding the rigid confines of expectations, I unearthed transformative energies residing within my brush strokes. The simple act of wandering through nature’s embrace became a conduit for joy, an opportunity to witness its glory up close. I transferred these moments of serenity onto the canvas and paper, infusing each stroke with the calm I felt within. The creative process, a language of self-expression, emerged as a balm, offering catharsis.

Within the fluidity of watercolors, I learned the art of relinquishing control, embracing imperfections as colors converged where I least expected. The tension, the struggle that danced within the creation, unveiled itself as an integral fragment of the process, a catalyst for change. Amidst the allure of instantaneous validation portrayed by social media, I discovered the discipline in creating many versions of the artwork, often letting go the idea of a “perfect picture”.

My paintings are an extension of my spirit, daring to embrace life’s complexities and uncertainties with open arms. I believe passionately in art therapy, it came into my life as I am nearing 50! But I now have the opportunity to share it with others till the end of my life!