Welcome to the 353rd installment of A View From the Easel, the series in which artists share reflections on their workspaces. This week, Rujuta Rao moves with a foldable studio wherever she goes, shaping an approach to art that mirrors her life between continents and mediums.
Want to take part? Check out our submission guidelines and share a bit about your studio with us through this form! All mediums and workspaces are welcome, including your home studio.
Rujuta Rao, New York City
How long have you been working in this space? I’ve had this itinerant studio since January. I usually set it up in public spaces in New York City.
Describe an average day in your studio. I tend to work on multiple projects in a circular manner, moving from one to another and developing each incrementally until I feel I’ve done enough. I learned as a child that this method suits my quickly shifting attention and helps sustain my interest in each project. I work until 4am every day, and I enjoy speaking with my family and friends in India while I work late. That is our time together.
How does the space affect your work? My studio is currently portable, modular, and itinerant. I carry it with me and assemble it in public spaces. Each setting and the people in it influence my work. The modular components that make up my studio are also used in my performances, and working with them in a studio setting is a way to practice activating them in performance. The pieces shift between serving as work surfaces, bar-like interfaces for engaging with people, and screens that create a sense of privacy in public.
