Sanjukta Mitra On How She Turned Art Into Connection, Defiance, & Healing

When Sanjukta Mitra left her stable career as a data scientist to pursue a life in art, she chose contemporary expression over her conventional job. What began as creating art on the corner table of her bedroom has evolved into a flourishing practice that now spans continents. Sanjukta’s art explores themes of healing, transformation, and the sacred, expressed through a bold colour palette and reimagined depictions of Hindu mythology.

In an interview with SheThePeople, Sanjukta reflected on her journey as an artist and how she found her voice through art. Remarking on the shift in her career, Sanjukta said, “In 2021, I took the plunge to pursue art. It was not an easy decision. I feel we are too small to choose art—art chooses us. It awakens an energy that is so powerful, with so much force and urgency, that you cannot contain it within yourself."

It was not an easy journey, but Sanjukta has a refreshing perspective on the challenges. "It had to be difficult for it to be worthwhile, right? Nothing worthwhile comes without challenges," she said. As a data scientist, she solved problems. Now, as an artist, she still solves problems on canvas. "Only the medium and platform have changed.”

Not only through her exceptional paintings, but Sanjukta also expresses herself through singing and dancing. She began learning Kathak at the age of two and later pursued Hindustani classical music. For Sanjukta, all these art forms are unique media that converge and connect her to a deeper sense of spirituality.

“Whenever I am painting, I never do so without music. I love watching classical dance performances. Whenever I see someone performing, it inspires me to pick up the paintbrush and start painting,” she says.

How A Personal Connection Defined Her Initial Journey

When Sanjukta transitioned from her career, one of the first paintings she created was of her father, who had recently passed away. While painting him, she felt as though he became real to her again. A part of her. It was then that she began to believe that art is not just decorative; it is immensely powerful and can change people’s lives.

What shaped her early journey as an artist was creating real-life portraits for her friends. She would find photos of their late parents on Facebook and paint their portraits. Recreating the memories her friends had shared with their deceased loved ones and evoking nostalgic emotions through those portraits marked the beginning of her path as an artist.

Sanjukta’s Spiritual Connection 

For Sanjukta, her canvas is a reflection of her life and spiritual beliefs. Born and raised in India and now living in Minneapolis, USA, her work transcends the boundaries of conventional fine art. Her paintings boldly reinterpret Indian mythology. When it comes to her artistic style, she refuses to follow the rules. Explaining the idea behind her unconventional approach, she shares:

“Lord Shiva had no rules, neither do my paintings. I don’t conform to traditional fine arts. My colour palette is bold, which might feel jarring to some people, but art is always subjective and all of us have our unique style of expression.”

Sanjukta’s deep devotion to Lord Shiva and Shakti breathes life into her paintings, offering vivid reinterpretations of mythological moments. She shared that only 20% of her time goes into actually painting; the remaining 80% is spent thinking, aspiring, researching, seeking, or conceptualising. Describing her disciplined routine, she noted how closely her current schedule resembles her days working in an office. She arrives at her studio by 8:30 a.m. and paints until 2 p.m.

She shared: “My ritual starts right after my kids leave for school. I begin tuning into the mindset of a larger force, be it Shiva or Shakti. I try to tune into the emotion I want to portray on the canvas. So I always listen to music. My days are divided: there are days when I paint, and on those days, you can’t touch me, I don’t understand food, I don’t understand anything. And then there are other days when I sit leisurely, cross-legged, and do research or sketch.”

Painting With Purpose

Sanjukta’s work has been showcased in juried exhibitions across the U.S. and is currently on display at the Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport. Her canvas speaks beyond the blend of brushstrokes. It is a powerful reimagination of mythological figures, redefined to reflect the complexities of modern life. 

When asked how people in the U.S. respond to her art, she fondly shared how viewers often resonate with the emotions behind her paintings. She recounted how even those with no background in art would walk into her studio and offer personal interpretations of her work.

Behind her soul-stirring paintings lie her thoughts. Sometimes spontaneous, other times deeply reflective. Her interpretation of Ardhanarishvara emerged from an introspective moment, as she contemplated what this form of Lord Shiva meant to her. She sat down and wrote her understanding of this powerful Shiva–Shakti duality before bringing it to life on canvas.

One painting that arose from sudden inspiration was titled Awaken the Durga Within. Prompted by the RG Kar rape case last year, Sanjukta created a vision of Goddess Durga to portray the immense power women hold. The painting conveyed her belief that Durga resides within all of us, and that it was time for her to rise among us.

Sanjukta’s work is also influenced by Greek mythology. She notes that just like Indian mythology, Greek myths feature gods and goddesses associated with sacred animals, symbolising their powers and traits. She believes both traditions convey similar messages, and that the emotions evoked by Indian and Greek mythology are deeply aligned. This belief has shaped many of her creations.

On being asked if AI holds the power to replace contemporary art, Sanjukta shared her insights. "AI can generate amazing art. AI, in terms of technicalities, is equal to hundreds of artists put together. It's basically data; every artist gives data. But the difference remains in emotions."

"The fact that you can see the painting and see the emotions the artist held behind is amazing. I honestly fear nothing. I feel that as artists, we need to be really honest with ourselves. I feel that the value of artists is going to go even higher because now you can create a niche for yourself."

Sanjukta has always believed that as an artist, it’s the life lived beyond the canvas that breathes meaning into her paintings. She feels it's about the journey of failing repeatedly, learning, and trying again. For Sanjukta, her favourite painting isn’t the one that received the most praise or turned out the most beautiful. It's the one she struggled with the most, the one she never gave up on, even when she felt exhausted. The one that made her say she couldn't go on, yet she still showed up the next day.