Simi Rao

Multidisciplinary Artist and Teaching Artist

The Portrait Series

In three steps.

  • I start with a quick sketch to capture your energy in the moment. Then we move into questions. We begin broad, and let the conversation guide us to the specifics. The goal is to leave no stone unturned, to capture a snapshot of your life as it exists right now.

  • After our conversation, I take time to reflect. I look back at my notes, think about what stood out, and begin to write. The writing isn’t a biography or summary - it’s a collection of observations, moments from our conversation, and things that felt important but weren’t always said out loud. I find that these impressions become clearer with time.

  • Each portrait comes out a little differently, and the process continues to change as I make more of them. Together, they form an evolving body of work. Individually, each piece reflects the person as they were at the time we made it - both internally and externally.

About Simi

I’m a multidisciplinary artist and teaching artist working across clay, painting, and mixed media. My work centers on process, conversation, and creating spaces where people can engage with art as a shared experience rather than a finished product. Through both my studio practice and community-based teaching, I’m interested in art as a tool in fostering connection, reflection, and care.

Get In Touch

Interested in working together, have a question, or just curious?
Feel free to reach out - I’d love to connect and see where the conversation leads.

I'll tell you anything, you just have to ask

I'll tell you anything, you just have to ask