Baba Anand is an Indian artist who lives in New York and works in a unique style that mixes different styles and media giving art a very different approach. Especially in his oleographs of various gods and goddesses he uses embellishments like sequins, crystals and silver and gold dust – a style remnant from his days as a fashion designer – which gives spirituality an altogether irreverent approach.

One of collections titled Gods and Demigods, where bollywood icons were the demigods, combined two of his pet interests, both of whom he gave his unique embellished touch thus underlining what sets him apart from the others.

He talks to expressindia.com about himself and his work:

Tell us something about yourself? You were born in Kashmir, right?

Yes, I was born in 1961 in Kashmir I spent my childhood there and even did my graduation from there. It was beautiful, idyllic childhood and we moved around without fear of any kind.

You started out as a fashion designer. How was that experience, and what made you change?

Yes, I graduated from the first batch of NIFT in 1986. I left fashion designing in 1993. I was just not motivated anymore and depression and illness made me leave. Painting is a totally different art, you are working by yourself, and it is much less people-centric and demanding on daily life than fashion designing.

How were your initial experiences as an artist?

It was very tough, nobody believed in me except myself, but then breaking away is never easy. Thankfully there were still some people who saw potential in me and believed in me.

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