Studio Journal
Exploring Abstraction With Ritu. Musings on Art, Life, and Becoming
Studio Journal is where I reflect on the quieter questions of being an artist. These writings are part idea book, part personal philosophy—exploring what it means to create, to observe, and to move through the art world with intention. From musings on creative discipline and daily rituals, to thoughts on beauty, meaning, and the unseen structures that shape our lives, each post invites you into my studio as a space of inquiry and becoming. Here, art is not just something I make—it is how I think, listen, and live.
By Medium
Integrity: From Algorithm to Abstraction
What if integrity could be both algorithm and abstraction — both rule and revelation? A painting is whole when nothing feels missing, when intention and expression finally align.
Emerging Abstract Artists to Watch in 2025
Collectors are looking to emerging abstract artists in 2025. See how Ritu Raj’s innovative work is shaping this new wave of abstraction.
Collecting Abstraction in 2025: Why It Matters
Learn why collectors are turning to contemporary abstraction in 2025, with artists like Ritu Raj leading the way.
Why Hawk Salvage: Pop Art and the Art of Renewal
In Pop Art at Hawk Salvage, Ritu Raj brings vibrant cutouts and mixed-media works into dialogue with Phoenix’s culture of reuse. Merging Pop Art’s wit with the raw materiality of salvage, the exhibition transforms discarded symbols and objects into reflections on renewal, nostalgia, and the art of seeing the everyday anew.
Abstraction, Migration, and Identity: Art in Transformation
Explore how Ritu Raj’s abstract paintings reflect themes of migration, identity, and transformation for today’s collectors.
Beyond New York and LA: Collecting Art in the Southwest
Collectors are looking beyond New York and LA. Discover why Phoenix and the Southwest are attracting attention in contemporary abstraction.
Why Collectors Are Turning to Emerging Abstract Artists in 2025
Discover why emerging abstract artists like Ritu Raj are capturing collector interest in 2025 with bold techniques and modernist influences.
From Lens to Canvas: Photography’s Influence on My Abstract Paintings
See how Ritu Raj’s background in photography shapes his abstract paintings through light, layering, and composition.
Meditations in Color: Abstraction After Rothko and Newman
Explore how Ritu Raj continues the legacy of Rothko and Newman, creating abstract paintings of color, silence, and meaning.
Innovation Meets Tradition: The Future of Abstract Painting
Ritu Raj blends modernist influences with experimental techniques, redefining the future of abstract painting for collectors and gallerists.
Why Phoenix Is Becoming a Hub for Contemporary Abstract Art
Discover why Phoenix is emerging as a center for contemporary abstraction, featuring the work of local artist Ritu Raj.
Painting Beyond the Brush: Reinventing Technique in Contemporary Abstraction
Discover how Ritu Raj’s innovative techniques—painting with string and CNC wood panels—are redefining abstraction in today’s art world.
From Souza to Today: How Indian Modernism Inspires Contemporary Abstraction
Discover how Ritu Raj continues the legacy of Indian modernists like F.N. Souza and Husain while redefining contemporary abstraction.
A New Logo, A Timeless Gesture
My new logo is more than a design — it’s a symbol of painting with thread by hand, inspired by the expressive mudras of South Indian classical dance, where every gesture carries emotion.
The Organic Abstract Art Series: Where Nature Meets Geometry
The Organic Abstract Art Series by Ritu Raj blends nature’s organic flow with geometric precision through a unique thread painting technique. Built from layers of oil, pigment, and twine, these works celebrate touch, presence, and imperfection—qualities no algorithm can replicate.
12 Urgent Picks: September 2025 Los Angeles Art Shows You Can’t Miss
This September, Los Angeles ignites with an extraordinary array of abstract and immersive art shows—from cinematic reconfigurations to textile-driven meditations. Dive into our curated guide to the 12 must-see exhibitions, complete with press acclaim, accessibility, pricing, and how each centers abstraction in powerful, innovative ways.
Emotional Abstract Art: The Complete Guide to Powerful Visual Experience and Transformative Collecting
Beauty, the world, and art form a cycle: the world offers raw material, art transforms it, and beauty emerges as the gift. This manifesto explores why I paint — not to escape the world, but to reveal its hidden beauty.
Beauty, World, and Art: A Manifesto on Why I Paint
Emotional abstract art is more than décor—it’s a pulse, a mirror, and a refuge. In this guide, I share how to spot emotionally powerful works, why they matter in today’s collecting culture, and where to experience them firsthand.
Top 12 Phoenix Artists Transforming the Contemporary Art Scene
Phoenix’s contemporary art scene thrives at the intersection of grassroots energy and international recognition. This guide highlights 12 of the city’s leading artists—spanning painters, muralists, sculptors, and mixed-media innovators—who are shaping how we see and experience art today. Whether you’re a collector, curator, or simply exploring, these profiles provide a roadmap to the Valley’s most impactful creators, with Ritu Raj standing out for his versatile, commission-ready practice.
The Completion of Listening in Painting: A Reflective Journey Through Thread and Color
Painting, for me, is listening. Not with the ears, but with openness to color, texture, and gesture. In my thread paintings, completion arises not when I decide, but when the work itself declares: enough. This moment of distinction, echoing Heidegger’s thought on listening, transforms process into presence.