A Note From Kitty
I grew up in the vibrant, ever-buzzing city of Kolkata, India—where art was admired from a distance but not exactly something you were supposed to pursue. So naturally, I did what any dream-filled kid might do: I tucked that artist spirit away (but never too far), collected degrees in English and Education, and let life unfold.
Fast forward to 1988, I landed in the colorful, soulful city of New Orleans, USA—and everything changed. Suddenly, the path to a Master’s in Painting didn’t seem so far-fetched. It felt right. It felt like homecoming.
Today, my work is a swirling blend of where I’ve been and who I’ve become. My Indian heritage, my love for New Orleans, my travels across continents, the raw beauty of nature, and the human experiences in between—they all leave their marks on my canvas. I’m drawn to eco-art, especially in these urgent times. Our planet’s fragility is always on my mind, and it flows through my work—sometimes abstract, sometimes representational, always emotionally honest. I wrestle with color, form, and design, searching for harmony, even in chaos.
And then there’s scratchboard. What started as a minimal black-and-white medium quickly got overrun by color and gold leaf (I couldn’t help myself!). Whether it’s for adults or little ones, each series brings me unexpected joy.
Through my art, I try to capture the resilience and vulnerability of the world we live in—a world worth protecting, celebrating, and reimagining.
So come on in. Explore. Feel. Let’s connect through color, texture, and story.
-Kitty
Artist Biography
Born in Calcutta (now Kolkata), India, in 1950, Kitty Parakh has maintained a deep and lifelong connection with the fine arts. Influenced early on by her maternal grandfather, a sculptor of notable talent, she demonstrated an innate aptitude for artistic expression from a young age.
Although art remained a quiet passion during her early years, family responsibilities took precedence. It was not until her move to the United States in 1988 that she returned fully to her creative pursuits. She went on to earn a Master of Arts in Fine Arts from Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, under the mentorship of renowned landscape painter and professor Stanley Sporny. In addition to her fine arts degree, Kitty holds a Bachelor’s in Education and a Master’s in English.
While living in Charleston, West Virginia, Kitty exhibited in numerous juried and group shows throughout West Virginia and Kentucky. Her work was featured in venues such as the Sunrise Museum in Charleston, the Oglebay Institute’s Stifel Fine Arts Center in Wheeling, and the West Virginia Division of Culture and History. In 1998, she held a solo exhibition at the Sunrise Museum’s Annex.
Since relocating to New Orleans in 2001, Kitty has participated in multiple group exhibitions with organizations including the New Orleans Arts Association, the New Orleans West Bank Art Guild, and the BECA Gallery. Her work has also been represented by the Agora Gallery in New York and Galerie Royale in New Orleans. Today, she focuses primarily on direct sales from her studio and accepts commissioned work.
Kitty continues to grow artistically through workshops, both in the United States and abroad. She has studied in Argenton Château, France, and in New Orleans with artists such as Steve Aimone, Cat Tesla, Vickie Marsango, and Lorraine Glessner.
Her artistic style is rooted in abstraction, with a focus on symbolic representation, dynamic line work, and rich use of color. Her paintings often reflect a synthesis of her cultural heritage, personal experiences, and an ongoing dialogue with nature and design.
She is an active member of the New Orleans Arts Association.
