Lotus Talk Series: Artist Conversations with Natasha Rauf

An Afternoon In Heaven, inspired by South Asian mythological stories, and how that mythology and story always contains the backdrop of the lotus flower. It is also a celebration of South Asian womanhood, an idea I consider to be close to the idea of heaven – again, overflowing with lotuses.

Nightfall in Heaven, like its counterpart, is a representation of time and movement within the mythology and story that are rooted in South Asian culture, often accompanied by lotus flowers as a central symbol.

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I’m an illustrator and artist based in Portland, Oregon, and originally from Pakistan. I grew up in the United States, and like a lot of other immigrants, predisposed to living in the background of culture alongside an accentuated Western ethos. My artistic journey began twelve years ago, where the influence of color poured into the themes of self-discovery, self-connection, and being at home with oneself. These themes in my work have now evolved toward an exhaustive dive into my genetic and ancestral roots, especially in terms of place and environment.