We had the good fortune of connecting with Kirti Narain and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kirti, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Let’s start with this question. The thought behind this way of visual artist life was to show my vision as I would always be at a loss of words. Words would never be able to express fully of what I felt.
I started with my journey with a camera when my father gifted me an iPod Touch, as it would satisfy both – my music love and it had camera to click pictures. I would always carry it and click every single thing I liked. Both these interests of mine have shaped me to now become a director in Indian Music Industry Scene.

My business is actually me being a passion driven artist and I believe that my thirst for art is never quenched. It will just keep growing forever.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art is a combination of abstract, editorial, political and documented stories. I feel that I always wished to be a story teller of how I see my world. Photography as an art has led me to show the ways I see everything around me to the people who might not understand what I mean with words. Words make everything countable, but art is somewhere being in the grey area of emotions. You don’t have an exact word, it just makes you feel something and it’s so subjective that different people will feel different. This also gives me a new way of seeing my own work & its intention being changed with different people and different eyes.

Was it easy to be here? Absolutely NOT!
I had to fight my parents and make them understand that I love this way of artistic life. That I can make a living out of it and I will be happy doing what I like.
My parents had different plans for me like any other Indian parents, but after doing Political Science degree from a prestigious college which had the most amazing cultural societies, I think it worked well for me.
I was pursuing my favorite academic subject and getting better at my art.
At the age of 18, just 4 months into college, I was awarded the Youngest Canon Photo Marathon Winner.
That day, when I came back with a camera as a gift and handed it over to my father – we all were in tears.
I won’t forget that day ever. It helped me in making my parents and also prove to myself that I deserve to learn more about the art of photography. I guess, perseverance makes everything alright at the end of the day.

After that, I started to work with small brands, influencers, creators and later on got onto a stage of now having projects done with big brands like Adidas Originals, Reebok, Christian Dior; cover for magazines like Elle, Grazia, Femina and so on.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Okay, so majority of my Indian friends haven’t been to LA. I will take my best friend to the most epic week of adventure.
Take them to Getty Museum first, then LACMA as it was my first tourist spot to be at.
Take them up the hills to show the LA City at night.
Go to Disneyland & then Universal Studio’s is a must.

We go to the Griffith Observatory and do a photo + painting session in the parking lot whilst seeing Hollywood sign.
If we have some energy left, who wouldn’t like to go to Big Bear for a snowboarding session?! (I’m new to it, but its so much fun!)

Go to Burger 99, eat vegan tacos and then go to Badmaash for the last night.

Ah, you’ve guessed it right, I am a big foodie.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Well, I would like to give honorary mention to my mentor, my director from MFA, Mr. Bill Gaskins. He saw in me what other people couldn’t. I always would speak about me making my political science undergraduate club together with my passion of photography.
I still remember, in my interview to get into MICA, Bill asked me what makes me unique?
That day, that question and how I answered to it changed my life. I said, “Personal is political; belonging to a political school of thought, I see everything in a way where I can start a conversation of a revolution to put my feet into the social causes I wish to work towards.” And, that’s it. I think that’s where I knew what my intentions were with my art & what were the creative ideas + ways I will always put into my concept.

Not to leave out on the special mention, my family and friends. These two shaped me as I think, look and feel today. They’ve shaped me into this beautiful independent woman who should not be afraid for how she portray the world around her and be vocal about it. They are my day one supporters.

Website: www.kirtinarain.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/kirti_narain

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirti-narain-76608614b

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCp8yqdh2-C2a1KrIinZb5LQ

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