Shebani Rao

I am a painter, illustrator, and comic artist living in Philadelphia. My work is influenced by explorations of identity and the feeling of being in between worlds that comes with being a child of immigrants. I am lucky to come from a line of makers and DIY-ers; my mom and grandmother made me clothes, costumes, outfits for my dolls, and more throughout my childhood. I bring this ethos into my daily life and am working to incorporate it into my practice by repurposing everyday objects and using materials in unexpected ways. I experiment with textures, color, and patterns to tell stories in my work.