Namrata Kumar

Artist
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New Delhi-based artist Namrata Kumar’s work encapsulates the quiet, in-between scenes that could easily pass unnoticed and yet are moments that feel oddly familiar. Often featuring soft mustards, deep greens, dusty pinks, blues, and rusts, she captures fleeting glimpses from real life: people she encounters, places she visits, and objects that catch her eye. Her canvases might reveal a woman adjusting her sari in the afternoon light, a quiet exchange between friends, or an empty room bathed in colour, each scene often conveying a feeling of nostalgia. Before moving fully into illustration and painting, Namrata studied at Srishti School of Art & Design and worked as a graphic designer. One of the most recognisable features of Namrata’s work is her play of colours, with brushstrokes that bring out fine details and create an almost tangible texture. Whether capturing the depth of a landscape or highlighting the contours of a human face or a saree, this signature approach is among the key elements that first brought her paintings into the spotlight. One of her collections, for instance, drew inspiration from South Indian saris, celebrating diverse weaves, colours, and regional styles like Kanjeevarams and Chettinad cotton. Rather than focusing on technical details, it captured how these textiles come alive within everyday lived spaces. Raised by a mother who worked as a textile designer, Namrata’s childhood was deeply immersed in textiles. This early exposure shaped her unique approach to fabrics in her work today, where the way a sari folds or how light plays on a surface often becomes the focal point of her paintings. Outside of her personal practice, Namrata collaborates with brands to explore different ways of representing her art across textiles, digital illustrations, and packaging. The characteristic use of colour palettes and brushstrokes in Namrata’s painting results in canvases that create a warm, emotional tone without overwhelming the senses, inviting collaborations with names like Nicobar, Cord, and Manam Chocolate. This approach reflects her goal to create a visceral response, and her pieces do that by staying quiet and open, letting the viewer bring in their own context. Namrata’s strength lies in her ability to observe and translate—the work doesn’t try to be larger than life. Instead, it stays close to things that are easy to overlook, and gives them just enough space to be seen differently.

Namrata speaks to Blur The Border :


Blur : From oil paintings to digital illustrations and now ceramics, your practice spans multiple mediums. What would you say is the common thread that ties all your work together?


Namrata : As a creative practitioner, I’ve never quite fit into the neat boundaries of a single style, subject, or medium. My practice is inherently diverse. With a background in Visual Communication Design, I began with digital painting, finding ease and fluency in tools like Adobe Photoshop. From there, I ventured into acrylics and eventually oils, each medium offering new ways to explore form, colour, and expression.

A few years ago, my interest in pottery took me to the mountains of Himachal, where I trained in the fundamentals at Dharamkot Studio. For some time thereafter, I questioned whether I should focus on one medium, whether that would lend coherence to my practice. But over time, I’ve come to embrace my multidisciplinary approach as a strength—not a distraction.

What connects my work, across mediums and series, is a deep engagement with colour. I see colour as my strongest asset, a tool through which I express feeling and evoke mood. My use of colour is deliberate yet instinctive—something I’ve honed over years of practice but still approach with spontaneity. Textiles have also been a quiet yet powerful influence. Their patterns, textures, and geometry often seep into my work in unexpected, unplanned ways, which I feel adds character to my work.

There’s a certain spontaneity at the heart of my style. While I begin each piece with a loosely defined visual language, I allow the work to guide me—to evolve and take on a life of its own. I immerse myself fully in each series, finding joy in detail and depth. For me, art is as much about process as outcome—a space to experiment, to feel, and to remain open to the unexpected.

Blur :  Your work stands out for its grounding in real-world references like sarees and traditional textiles. What draws you to these tangible sources, and how do they shape your visual language?


Namrata : Art and design have always been embedded in my way of life. Growing up in a home with a textile designer mother, aesthetics weren’t taught to me—they were lived. My childhood was unique. I would often accompany my mother to weaving units and dyeing workshops, where I watched her work with artisans—discussing fibres, palettes, and patterns. From a young age, I absorbed the rhythms of her world and the various processes involved; from sourcing of the yarn, to spinning it, to dyeing it, to weaving the yarn on traditional looms to create a piece of hand-woven textile.

Additionally, we were constantly surrounded by textiles from across India, with dealers arriving with unique treasures from Kutch, Kullu, and beyond. While I may not have understood the artistic value of these wares as a child, I was unknowingly internalising a rich visual and tactile vocabulary. 

This early exposure has quietly but powerfully shaped my creative practice. Whether I’m making digital paintings of women draped in saris, painting geometric compositions in oil, or working on ceramic surfaces inspired by African textiles, the influence of those formative years continues to surface.  In many ways, my art is a continuation of that early dialogue between material and memory—an attempt to translate the sensorial world I grew up in into new visual forms.


Blur : Do you follow a definitive process while creating? Are there any habits or rituals that help you get into a creative mindset?


Namrata : I find inspiration in many places—Pinterest, Instagram, and an ever-growing library of art and design books that I often revisit. These are my informal but invaluable reference points. That said, I don’t follow a rigid process. My approach is intuitive—I simply begin, and allow the work to take shape as I go.

Being in the field of art and design, I feel I am always in a creative mindset. There’s no real pause button. I’m constantly absorbing, observing, and translating the world around me into visual ideas. It’s less about waiting for the perfect concept and more about staying open, staying receptive.

I’m not entirely convinced by the idea of creative block. More often than not, what we call a block is just the fear of starting. Once I take that first step—no matter how uncertain—I find that the path gradually reveals itself. For me, it’s about momentum. The act of making itself becomes the guide.



Blur : In today’s art landscape, how important is it for artists to be online? What advice would you give to emerging artists trying to build visibility and community?


Namrata : Platforms like Instagram have played a vital role in shaping my journey as a creator. I genuinely credit a significant part of my growth to it. When used thoughtfully, it can be an incredibly powerful—and free—tool for artists to showcase their work to a wide and engaged audience. In today’s world, it would be unwise to ignore the reach and opportunity it offers.

That said, social media should never be a substitute for the work itself. The core of any creative practice must remain rooted in originality, sincerity, and substance. The work must come first. Focus on creating something compelling—something with depth and intention—and then use platforms like Instagram to share that vision with the world.

Collaborations can also be an enriching part of this ecosystem, especially when you work with people whose values and creative ethos align with your own. These partnerships often lead to meaningful, mutually beneficial outcomes.

Above all, I believe in the value of sincerity and hard work. Don’t cut corners. Take the time to create thoughtfully and with care. Reputation is everything—build one with integrity and authenticity, and trust that good things will follow.



Blur : There’s always a balancing act between the creative side of making and the practicalities of sustaining an art practice. How do you approach the more commercial or business-driven aspects of being an artist?

Namrata : Like many artists, I grapple with the balance between creative freedom and commercial viability. I tend to create quite instinctively—if something excites me, I pursue it wholeheartedly. The question of how it will sell usually comes much later. While this may not be the most strategic approach from a business standpoint, I’ve found that when I’m deeply passionate about an idea, the act of bringing it to life becomes unstoppable.

In the early years of my practice as an independent artist, I often reached out to brands whose ethos and aesthetics resonated with mine. One such pivotal moment was my collaboration with the design brand Nicobar. Securing that project took a great deal of persistence, but it proved to be a turning point—it gave me instant visibility and recognition. Today, I’m grateful to be in a position where my work is seen and appreciated, which has naturally eased some of the commercial pressures.

That said, navigating the fine art world has been a different challenge altogether. Coming from a design background, I’ve often found it difficult to be taken seriously by galleries. There’s a certain scepticism that still exists around artists who operate at the intersection of design and art. But my approach has always been simple: keep going. Create work that I believe in, that I am proud of, and trust that the rest will fall into place in its own time.



Blur : When working with brands, how do you strike that balance between adapting to their design language and maintaining your own creative voice?


Namrata : I consider myself fortunate that most brands approach me specifically for my style. The kind of clients who reach out typically share a similar creative vision, which makes the collaboration feel natural and intuitive. There’s an organic flow to these partnerships because the alignment in aesthetic values is already present from the outset.

My process with brands is almost always collaborative. It begins with a conversation about what the brand needs or envisions, and from there, the making begins. I regularly share work-in-progress versions throughout the development phase, allowing room for feedback and refinement. This back-and-forth is not just productive—it’s essential.

At the heart of this process is trust. I do my best work when there is mutual trust—when I feel confident in the client’s feedback, and they trust in my creative approach. It’s important for me to understand the reasoning behind any suggestions or changes. When I can see the thought process behind the feedback, it becomes much easier to shape the final outcome in a way that feels both authentic to my practice and aligned with the client’s goals.

This kind of transparent and respectful dialogue is what transforms a brief into something meaningful. Ultimately, it’s that spirit of collaboration that brings out the best in both sides.


Blur : If you could collaborate with someone outside your discipline, who would it be and what kind of project would you imagine?


Namrata : I’m really drawn to architecture. I don’t have a particular architect in mind as an influence, but the idea of designing a three-dimensional space—especially at a large scale—feels both creatively challenging and deeply fulfilling. There’s something incredibly compelling about shaping environments that people inhabit, move through, and emotionally respond to.

I’ve often imagined designing a creative community space, or even my own home. I’m fascinated by how space affects mood, energy, and interaction—how architecture can be both functional and emotionally resonant. My approach would be rooted in sensitivity to material and context: using natural, locally sourced materials and creating something that blends harmoniously with its environment. I imagine a space that feels grounded, welcoming, and deeply connected to its surroundings—something that supports creativity and quiet reflection in equal measure.


Know more about Namrata:

Website: https://namratakumar.co/

Instagram: @namrata.kumar.art

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