Salma Arastu

Bio

As an internationally exhibited woman artist I bring a unique global perspective due to the fact that I was born into the Sindhi and Hindu traditions in Rajasthan, India, and later embraced Islam and moved to the USA in 1986. As a woman, artist, and mother, I work to create harmony by expressing the universality of humanity through paintings, sculpture, calligraphy and poetry.  Inspired by the imagery, sculpture and writings of my Indian heritage and Islamic spirituality, I use my artistic voice to break down the barriers that divide to foster peace and understanding. At birth I was given the life-defining challenge of a left hand without fingers. Seeing the unity of an all-encompassing God, I was able to transcend the barriers often set-forth in the traditions of religion, culture, and the cultural perceptions of handicaps. My works are lyrical, spiritual, figurative, and calligraphic. I have tried to bring together Eastern spirituality and Western techniques of painting learned over the years. Through the contrasting elements in my work, I yearn and search for unity balance. As a visual artist I have had 45 solo shows internationally and have won several prestigious awards including the East Bay Community’s Fund for Artists and the City of Berkeley’s Individual Artist Grant Award. My art is in installation in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania and San Diego. I have published five books including ecological consciousness from the Quranic verses “Our Earth: Embracing All Communities.”