Hand-Painted Photography — Original Works for Collectors
Photographs printed on canvas, then painted by hand. Each work begins where the camera stopped — and goes somewhere the camera cannot.
Hand-Painted Photograph by Ritu Raj
“Photography has almost no reality, it is almost a hundred per cent picture, and painting always has reality, you can touch the paint; it has presence.” –Gerhard Richter
As a professional photographer, Ritu Raj spent years learning what a camera can and cannot hold. That question — what the image leaves out — became the beginning of a practice.
Each work in this series starts as a photograph, printed on canvas. Then painted over, by hand, in acrylic. The photograph is not erased. It is recontextualized — its detail still present beneath brushstrokes that shift, obscure, and transform what the lens captured. What emerges is neither photograph nor painting, but something that lives in the tension between the two.
The subjects are often the human figure — explored not for likeness but for form, mood, and emotional weight. Ritu works against literal representation, abstracting the image until recognition loosens and feeling takes over. In that loosening, a new visual language appears.
These are not prints. Not reproductions. Each piece is original, hand-painted in his Phoenix studio, with no two alike. They are works meant to be lived with — returned to, slowly, over time.
Model 1 Abstraction Mixed Media on Canvas 2024, 4ft x 4ft
Model 2 Abstraction Mixed Media on Canvas 2024, 4ft x 4ft
Purple Haze Mixed Media on Canvas 2023, 4ft x 4ft
Haze Mixed Media on Canvas 2023, 4ft x 4ft
Form Mixed Media on Canvas 2023, 5ft x 5ft
Playing Mixed Media on Canvas 2023, 5ft x 5ft
Eyes Mixed Media on Canvas 2023, 4ft x 4ft
Cold Dream Mixed Media on Canvas 2023, 4ft x 4ft
Focus Mixed Media on Canvas 2023, 5ft x 5ft
Blue Legs Mixed Media on Canvas 2023, 4ft x 4ft
Blonde Acrylic On Canvas 2022, 4ft x 4ft
A Study in Black & White Mixed Media on Canvas 2023, 5ft x 5ft
Layers of Reality or Not Mixed Media on Canvas 2020, 3ft x 3ft
Selfie Mixed Media on Canvas 2020, 3ft x 3ft
About Ritu Raj — A Contemporary Abstract Artist with a Unique Vision
Ritu Raj is a Phoenix-based painter and former professional photographer. His hand-painted photography series sits at the intersection of both practices — the photograph as ground, the painted mark as inquiry. Works from this series are held in private collections across the US. Each piece is original, signed, and accompanied by a certificate of authenticity.
Secure Global Shipping for Original Abstract Pop Art
Each hand-painted photograph is an original, signed work by Ritu Raj — accompanied by a certificate of authenticity. Paintings are carefully packaged and shipped worldwide with full insurance coverage. Private viewings and local delivery are available in Phoenix and select U.S. cities.
Commission a Custom Hand-Painted Photograph
Collectors may also commission bespoke hand-painted photographs — working directly with Ritu to create a unique piece tailored to their vision. Whether for a private collection, corporate installation, or curated exhibition, each commission is a one-of-a-kind artwork.
Ready to Acquire a Unique Hand-Painted Photograph?
Explore the available works above or contact Ritu Raj for availability, pricing, or commission inquiries. Each piece in this series is an original — no reproductions or digital editions.