Tanya Momi
Artist Statement
Rooted in Healing, Resilience, and Reclamation
My work is deeply personal, yet it resonates with the collective memory of millions. As the daughter of refugees displaced during the violent Partition of Punjab, I carry an inherited grief that fuels my artistic expression. Through my paintings, I challenge how nationalism is used to construct identity, disrupt communities, and erase histories.
My art is also a reclamation of space—particularly for women whose voices have long been overshadowed. Having navigated my own journey of defying South Asian cultural expectations as a young divorcee, I explore themes of unfiltered femininity, empowerment, and the magic of being present in one’s truth. My work refuses the passive, subservient narrative often imposed on South Asian women, instead portraying them as bold, unapologetic, and free.