Painting, Emerging Artists, New to One of a Kind
Runa Rang Studio
Mixed media artwork of the strong South Asian female experience
Welcome! I’m Aruna, the Minnesota based artist behind Runa Rang Studio.
As a girl growing up in an Indian household, I learned to be careful: sit properly, don’t stare, dress modestly, stay agreeable. While my childhood was joyful, I often made choices out of fear and a desire to stay safe.
Today, my art challenges those narratives. I paint strong women in traditional South Asian attire doing everyday things — drinking tea, loving a pet, reading a book — but without conforming to the societal restrictions that have historically defined them. These women exude confidence, ease, and self-possession. They do not ask permission to be.
I choose acrylics because they are resilient — just like the women I paint, and then layer with paper and embroidery. These layers of texture make each piece a holistic treasure to own.
I want my art to challenge the outdated idea that a woman must choose between being sensual or intelligent, soft or strong. Sensuality, intellect, leadership, and grit live side by side in the same woman — and I paint that truth, unapologetically.
As a girl growing up in an Indian household, I learned to be careful: sit properly, don’t stare, dress modestly, stay agreeable. While my childhood was joyful, I often made choices out of fear and a desire to stay safe.
Today, my art challenges those narratives. I paint strong women in traditional South Asian attire doing everyday things — drinking tea, loving a pet, reading a book — but without conforming to the societal restrictions that have historically defined them. These women exude confidence, ease, and self-possession. They do not ask permission to be.
I choose acrylics because they are resilient — just like the women I paint, and then layer with paper and embroidery. These layers of texture make each piece a holistic treasure to own.
I want my art to challenge the outdated idea that a woman must choose between being sensual or intelligent, soft or strong. Sensuality, intellect, leadership, and grit live side by side in the same woman — and I paint that truth, unapologetically.
