Shrey Purohit is on a mission to keep creating art and community.
Purohit came to San Francisco from Mumbai, India on an O-1 visa in 2020. He graduated from the California College of the Arts and has since spent his time painting realistic citycapes and collages in attractive colors and opening doors for fellow artists.
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The painter has created countless pieces depicting the city — many of Ingleside's iconic landmarks — and operated Ingleside Gallery, which closed its Ocean Avenue location but lives on at Ballast Coffee in West Portal. He’s currently helping to curate art exhibits in New York and throughout San Francisco and working at ArtSpan. He’s now working to renew his O-1 visa, a nonimmigrant visa for individuals with extraordinary abilities or achievements in specific fields.
While the looming decision of whether he can stay here for another three years hangs in the balance, he's channeling his energy into spreading art to everyone close and far from home like with his newest exhibit with Gallery Index 8 at the Palota Gallery on Treasure Island called “Doves/Bombs.”
The Ingleside Light caught up with Purohit to learn about his bid to keep producing art in San Francisco.
This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
How did you find your art style?
This style came with a lot of heartbreak. This style came after two years of trying to start a gallery, running a gallery, doing my best to fundraise and run the gallery and then having to close the gallery. I came up with this style because I feel so much and I want to say so much. I've always been a very loud and philosophical but ideological guy. My style is American realism in this contemporary era. I really take a lot of inspiration from Edward Hopper and Monet, the Impressionists and the American New Jersey School.
Shrey Purohit's "Nocturne Looking South."
What does your current journey look like and what happens next?
The GoFundMe is funded at 104%. I have to prove to the U.S. government that I am of extraordinary ability, deserve to stay here and have enough engagements of events to keep me here for the next three years. I’m so grateful to have my current job at ArtSpan which will keep me engaged for the next three years. I’ve managed the art at Ballast Coffee Shop for the last three years, so that will keep me engaged. With this new gallery project that I've started with Chad Abbley and [former elected official] Matt Gonzalez, Gallery Index 8, we’re trying to do art shows across the country. We did a show in New York two weeks ago. It was spectacular taking work and really seeing the Ingleside art scene but then seeing the global art scene in New York on a different level, taking artists from Ingleside to New York, taking artists from the TL to New York is really so special to make art share art locally but also take our local art and show what it is like to experience life in San Francisco.
For others who are on a similar journey or path as you, what’s one piece of advice you would give them?
Squeeze the lemons. There is an art scene. I feel like there are juices and lemons all over. Go in. Engage. Be earnest. Make your work but really be a kind person. Go expose your work. Show in cafes. Show in places that might not be traditionally part of spaces and you’ll get people who will like your work. The people will come.
Anne Marie Kristoff (she/her) is a recent graduate from San Francisco State University's journalism program. She enjoys writing about the arts, entertainment and nature.
