I recently went to see artwork in the studios of Nora Valdez and Nirmal Raja in advance of their month-long solo exhibitions at Boston Sculptors Gallery. Both are mid-career artists whose work reflects focused and mature intention.
Both are first generation immigrants. Raja is originally from Chennai, India, Valdez from Villa Mercedes, San Luis, Argentina. Although the artists are of singular vision, it is also true that their respective aesthetics loop through some of the same conceptual terrain — plying the immigrant experience and feminism.
Both explore ideas of belonging, distance and time. In conversation, Raja and Valdez individually mentioned the feeling of being “between two worlds.” They are citizens of the United States but live with influences and strong emotional ties to their countries of origin.
Running from May 8 through June 8, “Nirmal Raja: Grace and Grit” is the artist’s solo debut in Boston. In her show, Raja will present a rich collection of sculptures created during a 2023 residency co-sponsored by the John Michael Kohler Art Center and Kohler Company Arts/Industry Residency Program in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, along with new work made in Boston.
Raja makes artworks in a variety of media, an example of which is a performance film included in this show. The Kohler residency was an opportunity for the artist to create in cast iron and brass using multi-step processes, including mold making, molten metal pours and finishing techniques.