Shobha Jetmanlani
- 2D Arts 2024
Shobha’s journey began in India, and at the age of two, she moved with her family to Oregon.
One of her earliest memories is of Mumbai’s vibrant outdoor markets and visits to the hill towns in Kashmir, where she was captivated by the layers of color, costumes, and architecture during trips to visit family. This visual experience left a lasting impression, consciously and subconsciously influencing her artwork.
During her early years in Oregon, her family frequently camped in remote areas, fostering in Shobha a profound connection to nature. For her, the outdoors represents a “home” – an inclusive, grounding space that has deepened her appreciation for beauty, natural layering, and the juxtaposition of color and patterns.
Shobha’s passion for art developed alongside her academic training at Williams College, where she majored in Chemistry and Environmental Studies. During her time at Williams, she also studied studio art and art history, igniting her artistic instincts that she nurtured in parallel with her later work as a dermatologist.
For Shobha, both science and art are integral to her artistic practice. They share a foundation of hope, compassion, and human connection, all of which require focused observation. These principles form the core of her work.
Shobha has exhibited her artwork in both solo and group shows and works out of her studio in NW Portland. Her pieces are included in public collections such as those of Multnomah County and the City of Portland’s Vanport Building. She has received two grants from the Regional Arts and Culture Council (RACC). In 2022, Shobha was a featured artist and speaker for the OHSU Diversity Awareness through Arts and Culture series. She also led a workshop on the art of observation and compassion for the OHSU Department of Dermatology at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at Portland State University. Shobha has participated in the Centrum Artist Residency in Washington and has been accepted for a 2024 residency at the Château d’Orquevaux in France.
Her work reflects the dualities of her life—art and science, and the blending of two cultures—capturing the balance and harmony between them. There is no place she would rather be.
During her early years in Oregon, her family frequently camped in remote areas, fostering in Shobha a profound connection to nature. For her, the outdoors represents a “home” – an inclusive, grounding space that has deepened her appreciation for beauty, natural layering, and the juxtaposition of color and patterns.
Shobha’s passion for art developed alongside her academic training at Williams College, where she majored in Chemistry and Environmental Studies. During her time at Williams, she also studied studio art and art history, igniting her artistic instincts that she nurtured in parallel with her later work as a dermatologist.
For Shobha, both science and art are integral to her artistic practice. They share a foundation of hope, compassion, and human connection, all of which require focused observation. These principles form the core of her work.
Shobha has exhibited her artwork in both solo and group shows and works out of her studio in NW Portland. Her pieces are included in public collections such as those of Multnomah County and the City of Portland’s Vanport Building. She has received two grants from the Regional Arts and Culture Council (RACC). In 2022, Shobha was a featured artist and speaker for the OHSU Diversity Awareness through Arts and Culture series. She also led a workshop on the art of observation and compassion for the OHSU Department of Dermatology at the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at Portland State University. Shobha has participated in the Centrum Artist Residency in Washington and has been accepted for a 2024 residency at the Château d’Orquevaux in France.
Her work reflects the dualities of her life—art and science, and the blending of two cultures—capturing the balance and harmony between them. There is no place she would rather be.