Apoorva Panidapu
I painted the portrait of George Floyd to raise awareness about the prevalent racial injustice and police brutality in the US. It was a call for action, urging everyone to sign petitions, contact officials, to donate, to demand justice and change. With this portrait, I also asked for commissions through my art gallery, with 100% of the proceeds going towards BLM funds and organizations, and was able to raise $1,400 for several different foundations. The other four pieces were part of my portfolio from last year. With my portfolio, I aimed to explore the turmoil in my community to show the ubiquity of internal struggles. For each of my pieces, I had an in-depth conversation with the person featured to really try and understand the underlying emotion of their struggles. That way, I could attempt to show it through the colors and brush styles in my portraits. In all honesty, I used to think art was just a way to immortalize beauty, and I was satisfied with that. But I’m now discovering that it’s so much more. It tells the stories of our past, our present, and our hopes. It does depict beauty—but it also sings songs of heartbreak, speaks brave words of independence, and confronts the world with its own ugliness. Painting lets me add my perspective to this story of life. But still, I paint for me: to remember the little moments I would otherwise forget, and to cope with the big moments. With my art, I want to tell the stories that surround me to anyone who wants to listen.
About the Artist
Apoorva Panidapu
I am the founder of Apoorva Panidapu’s Art Gallery, an online platform to share my artwork and raise funds for charity. All the proceeds go directly to the charity, “Help Underserved African Children" (administered through Save the Children). I am the grand prize winner of NASA Langley Research Center’s Centennial Student Art Contest, as well as a recipient of four Presidential Volunteer Service Awards. So far, through my passion for math and art, I've helped raise more than $20,000 to support underprivileged children in Africa, visually impaired kids in India, and other organizations. I'm an enthusiastic oil painter of people. Portraits have always held a special place in my heart ever since I began my art journey. I particularly enjoy impressionistic and abstract works.