Interview
Ranjit Sihat
Edinburgh artist, Ranjit Sihat, blends design precision with bold, expressive form. With over 15 years in the creative industry, her striking visual voice has reached global audiences through public art showcases in New York, Rome, Amsterdam, and Barcelona.
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“Art has always been a fundamental thread running through my life. My creative upbringing, surrounded by my Mum’s crocheting and sewing patterns and my Dad’s photography, nurtured and shaped my creative foundation from an early age. I studied art and design in high school, which continued with individual distance learning courses and the Open University. Initially, my journey took an entrepreneurial turn when my husband and I set up Kosali (later re-branded as Paper Stuff), a social enterprise designing fair-trade, sustainable Nepali Lokta paper products crafted by women in Kathmandu. When that chapter evolved, I transitioned into a freelance graphic designer, but after my clients lost funding, I had to re-examine my career. Creating for myself rather than for others is where my true art journey began. I’m still an emerging artist in the art world, constantly exploring and evolving.”
What inspires you?
“So much inspires me, but mainly people. I am fascinated by the parallel between people and a clean canvas, a new Adobe Illustrator document, or a fresh sketchbook page: fundamentally, they start as the same, but it is the pockets of the world we live in, our unique cultures, varied ways of thinking, and lived experiences, that shape us, much like the colours or strokes in an art piece. I look to those who walk through many difficulties and still keep going, those who are authentically themselves, live on their own terms, and aren’t afraid of life.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“At the moment, through my portrait series celebrating iconic figures and creative powerhouses like Frida Kahlo and Yayoi Kusama, my focus is firmly on perseverance, resilience, and the triumph of the human spirit. The underlying message is about survival and legacy, exploring how individuals push past physical or emotional limitations, resist conformity, and manage to ‘dance to the sun’ regardless of life's adversities. It’s about mapping out the hidden layers, histories, and emotional depth that define us.”
How would you describe your work?
“My work is graphic art, sometimes graphic collage. It’s hard to completely let go of my design roots, so instead of fighting them, I lean in and use those strengths to shape my pieces. It sits precisely at the intersection of form and expression, thoughtfully structured yet intuitively driven. While my current output is largely graphic, I would eventually love to mix things up and move onto canvas in the future, bringing a more tactile, physical dimension to the work.”
Which artists influence you most?
“Oh goodness...so many. Andy Warhol, Frida Kahlo, Yayoi Kusama, Tracey Emin, and Salvador Dalí, to name just a few.”
What is your creative process like?
“Research, research, and more research! I need to truly understand my subject, diving deep into their history, symbolism, and personal archives, before I even begin putting pencil to paper. It mixes heavy research with total creative freedom.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“I believe an artist’s role is to stop the mind from being consumed with daily life, both my own and the viewer's. The world will continue to spin even if you take a minute to look at something an artist has created. It’s about taking that moment for yourself, to wonder, to feel, and to look and exist without judgment.”
Have you had any noteworthy exhibitions you'd like to share?
“Being part of Expo Metro, a brilliant global public art movement that takes art out of traditional galleries and onto monumental public billboards, has continued to be a standout experience. Seeing my work integrated into these giant urban mosaics, connecting with a massive international audience right in the heart of cities all over the world, completely redefines how public art can live, breathe, and engage with everyday life.”
Website: www.ranjitsihat.co.uk
Instagram: @ranjit_sihat
