It’s safe to say, when it comes to taking in the captivating works of visual artist Crystal Desai, 
there’s always more than meets the eye. Specializing in abstract mixed media painting, Desai explores themes of identity, spirituality, and femininity through her signature use of ethereal layers and dynamic textures.
Born and raised in Atlanta, Desai is proud to call the city home, and she embraces the continuing evolution of its creative scene to craft art that is both meaningful and accessible — extending beyond the local community. She knows firsthand the power that art possesses as a unique emotional outlet and voice that is driven by her ability to make even the most unexpected mediums play nicely with each other.
Here, CommonCreativATL catches up with Desai to get the scoop on self discovery through mixed media, her advice for aspiring artists, and what we can look forward to next from her.
CommonCreativ: How did you end up in Atlanta?
Crystal Desai: I’m an Atlanta native! I was born in Decatur, grew up in Stone Mountain and Chamblee, and went to school in Athens, so I’ve never been very far. I’m definitely attached to this place, and couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.
CC: What first sparked your interest in art?
CD: One of my earliest childhood memories is realizing I was good at drawing when I drew a picture of a girl next to a tree on an index card and showed it to my mom. As a painfully shy kid, art was a way for me to feel noticed and valued. As I got older I recognized it as an emotional outlet, and it has now evolved into a method of storytelling. I ended up getting a BFA in Painting from the University of Georgia, which was where I really began to develop my personal style.
CC: How would you describe your artistic style in one sentence?
CD: Hmm…layered, textural, abstraction, inspired by nature.
CC: As an artist, how do you effectively promote yourself?
CD: I use Instagram the most, and Facebook a little bit, but I find I make better connections and more opportunities come my way when I try to be as authentic and vulnerable as possible. I’m trying to learn how to better articulate the philosophy behind my work so I can share my thoughts in a way that creates discussion and a sense of connection with the people around me. I also enjoy participating in local group exhibits and am always working towards my next potential solo show.
Crystal Desai
CC: Your work is otherworldly and striking. Where do you find inspiration?
CD: I find a lot of inspiration through Indian and Hindu culture. I grew up seeing such magnificent images of deities, and rituals performed that were so rich in color and texture. Not to mention the extravagant clothes and jewelry. That, plus a love for fantasy, animals, nature, and biomorphic forms has really influenced my aesthetic.
CC: What are some of your favorite commissions and projects you’re most proud of creating?
CD: I’ve begun a series of paintings that are abstract portraits of women. It’s a way for me to honor ancestors, women in my life, and aspects of ourselves that have been squashed or not fully realized. I want the paintings to depict these mysterious, unknowable figures that are also powerful and magical. They represent the inner search for one’s most timeless and true self.
CC: How would you describe your creative process?
CD: Sometimes I have a vague sense of the piece I want to end up with, but more often I begin intuitively by loosely laying down layers of color and texture. As I begin to see an image, I tighten up the painting by bringing in sharper edges and more defined shapes. By working this way, each painting ends up having plenty of layers underneath that aren’t visible anymore. It’s kind of like working reductively, where I first put too much on the paper and then cover up what I don’t want anymore. This back and forth continues until I end up with the finished piece.
CC: What are some of your favorite mediums to work with?
CD: I love working with ink because of its translucent, luminous quality and versatility. There are countless ways to manipulate ink to get various textural effects. I also often use acrylic and watercolor. Lately I’ve been loving using gel pens to incorporate some detailed line work, and I also like adding microbeads to part of a piece as a final touch. They aren’t too flashy, and add just the right amount of sparkle and playfulness.
CC: Talk to me a bit about how your work explores themes of identity, spirituality, and femininity.
CD: My work is based on a personal mythology where I’m trying to, in a sense, explain to myself why I am the way I am, why my family is the way it is, etcetera. Painting figures and objects that represent ancestors and their relics, or images that tell part of a story, is an effort to create a history I can ground myself in, and then grow from. For me, this begins with “discovering” female ancestors and turning them into beings I can see and get to know, through introspection and ritual.
CC: Do you have any advice for fellow artists who are just starting out?
CD: I would say: try your best to be honest with yourself about what you truly want to make, and make that. Catch yourself when you’re putting an idea on the backburner because you’re afraid of it. If you feel called to create something, it’s most powerful in that moment, so don’t save it for later or it will become stagnant. Also, make as fast as you can think! It’s better to be prolific and make tons of unsuccessful work along with tons of successful work, rather than less of both.
CC: What are your thoughts on Atlanta’s current arts scene? How do you hope it will evolve?
CD: I love the closeness of Atlanta’s art community. It makes it feel like family. However, with that, I hope we can continue to find ways to make ourselves visible on a larger scale in Atlanta and beyond, and more accessible to people who don’t typically go to arts events.
CC: What are some of your favorite people and places in Atlanta?
CD: I do love how green Atlanta is and really appreciate all the hidden parks and gardens. A couple of my favorites are the Woodlands Garden and Deepdene Park which are both off Ponce de Leon Avenue. I could be having a busy day of errands and still make time for a stroll or just take some time to breathe and re-center without having to go out of my way.
CC: What can we look forward to seeing next from you?
CD: I’m really excited about the public art project I’ll be doing through MINT’s Leap Year Fellowship. It’s in collaboration with another fellow, Hasani Sahlehe, and is essentially going to be a faux archeological dig. We’re going to create objects to bury and the public will be invited to unearth the treasures with us. I think it will be a lot of fun!
See more of Crystal’s work on her portfolio site, Instagram and Facebook.
