Passionate about Art Driven by Purpose
Art be a Part is a platform where artistic vision meets universal impact. We are a community passionate about art and driven by purpose, translating a vision for a better, more inclusive world into tangible growth.
the story
Philanthropy in the arts enriches cultural landscapes, making art accessible to wider audiences. It helps sustain cultural institutions, supports the preservation of artistic heritage, and promotes diversity in artistic expression.
the connection
Our causes are our connection to the world of artistic impact. At AbaP, we are extremely driven by passion to support causes that need dire attention and find value driven philanthropy to drive it.
Philanthropy in the arts enriches cultural landscapes, making art accessible to wider audiences. It helps sustain cultural institutions, supports the preservation of artistic heritage, and promotes diversity in artistic expression.
By supporting organizations like UNICEF India and Dubai Cares, we are dedicated to using art as a vehicle for positive change.
He have always been around art and influenced by it. His grandparents were pioneers of the contemporary art movement in India in the 1940s and founded Gallery Chemould. At the same time, he was also passionate about animals, horses in particular, and went on to pursue a formal education and a career in the equestrian field. Several years ago, he started cultivating his passion for photography and naturally gravitated to photographing nature and animals. The main change he would like to see in the world is humanity living more in harmony with nature, and not at the expense of nature.
Maryam Sharaf is an Emirati artist from Dubai. She started drawing from a very young age, but she only found her passion to pursue art as a career in her 20s. Her experience in life has fueled creativeness. She has developed a unique style that is characterized by the use of different mediums such as acrylic, oil, and marker colors. If you take a look at her drawings, you will notice a distinguished drawing style of unique patterns making a beautiful mix of Surrealism and Abstract.
These patterns are created as a way of expression of the mind by converting thoughts into patterns. She has named this style “CHAOS OF THE MIND”.
Rohit Rattan a published Fine Art Photographer based in Dubai. Rohit’s core work plays on contrast to induce a surreal and minimalistic world that surrounds us with a large portion of negative space, to get people to see the power of photography and what remains unseen in this world of digital saturation. His work reflects a thin balance between emotions and expressions and its endless variations. The absence of colors accentuates the expressive power of the image itself whose interpretation becomes a medium of subtle yet artistic expression of solitude combined with his own response to the world around him depicting an emotive charge.
Harsh is a self-taught photographer who loves the freedom provided by the camera to satiate his creativity. His favourite captures are of wild beasts in their natural habitat, but his best ones are those taken in the concrete jungle. He finds inspiration in the juxtaposed shapes of urban landscapes, the play of light and shadow in nature and the million stories hidden behind the eyes or in the wrinkles of the people he meets on his travels.
Steven Lee Graver Is a British artist currently living in India. His work first brought him to India in 1997 painting commissions. He fell in love with the country, and decided to make it his home.
From 2007 -2013, he took up a job as creative director in an advertising company in Mumbai. After working for six years he decided to quit making art on computers and rekindle his passion for painting. Mostly an acrylic artist, he tries to let his paintings speak for themself, as they represent a moment in time, and each one of them can tell the story of what they portray.
A Multi-talented, Multidisciplinary Artist, born in London and living in Los Angeles. Best known as one half of the multi-platinum British band, “Bros”, he has for the past 20 years been pursuing his passion for cinema in Hollywood.
A true renaissance man, Luke is unafraid of trying his hand at, or lending his natural talents to various mediums of self-expression. All of which being led by his ethos, which amalgamates Love, Faith and Philosophy, and can be found in each area of his Creative Artistry.
Haran Kumar is a distinguished professional photographer with over 23 years of experience in fine art and commercial photography. His diverse artistic repertoire allows him to communicate profound emotions and intricate nuances through abstract paintings, digital artworks, and photographic creations. Fuelled by a deep passion for the arts and an unyielding curiosity to explore various creative avenues, Haran embarked on a new journey as a painter during the initial lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic in India. In May 2020, after dedicating a month and a half to studying the works of renowned painters on YouTube, he picked up his paintbrush and began transforming his ideas onto canvas.
Today, Haran thrives in the liberating realm of creative expression, working on both traditional canvases and digital medium. With a vibrant palette and skillful brushstrokes, he aspires to establish himself as a notable abstract expressionist within the vast art world. Through his captivating abstract paintings, Haran seeks to convey narratives of triumph and resilience, inviting viewers to join him on a journey of artistic exploration.
Born in Los Angeles in 2000, Ritchie studied at Central Saint Martins and the Royal Drawing School in London, where he currently lives and works. In his latest pieces, Ritchie continues to explore the human figure, inspired by artists like Lucian Freud and Francis Bacon. This new work follows his solo show “Lovers and Enemies” in London, where he showcased portraits of friends and family. Ritchie is known for his expressionist style, using thick oil paints and expressive brushstrokes. He also draws inspiration from various artists, including his parents, Madonna and filmmaker Guy Ritchie. One of his recent works, Mum and Dad, features a figurative portrait of his parents facing each other.
Mr. Drip is a Spanish visual artist who developed the dripping painting technique to be able to portray any subject in just a few minutes, without touching his canvas. The process of creating the artwork is something the artist shares with his audience, offering a unique live experience that has already been lived by icons such as Will Smith, Neymar Jr., Tom Cruise or Sara Sampaio.
Mr. Drip created his own unique technique by dripping paint on the canvas using a spatula. This controlled yet free movement creates multidimensional lines through spontaneous movements, without touching the canvas at any point in time. His artwork is one part of the experience and he brings his work to life in front of a live audience, encouraging them to see and feel the painting as it’s being created, and giving them a glimpse of the process behind the work.
South African-born Chris Fallows’ work represents authenticity, intimacy and emotion. The engaging manner in which he photographs his wild subjects bears testimony to the decades he has spent in some of the world’s most remote regions, uniquely working in all three realms of Ocean, Air and Earth.
Fallows’ work has appeared in more than 60 international documentaries with the BBC, National Geographic and Discovery Channel. Released in July 2020, Fallows’ Limited Edition includes some of the world’s most recognizable Fine Art wildlife photographs. It is a timeous reflection of global shifts towards sustainability and co-existence and is receiving widespread acclaim.
Bradley Theodore is known for his colorful depictions of icons. He is a multi-disciplinary artist whose iconoclastic approach to art can be found internationally, from 10-foot murals on the streets of Tokyo, Paris and Milan, to sold-out solo exhibitions in London, Tokyo and NYC.
Evoking the universality of color, skeletons, and celebrity, Theodore distills figures to skeletal forms, a confrontation that the artist calls “an act of living”, pushing color to express memory, emotion, and lived experiences.
meet the
meet the Founder
founder
Medha Nanda
Medha Nanda, a visionary in the realms of art and philanthropy, has nurtured a lifelong passion for creative expression. Her academic journey in design took her from Pearl Academy in Delhi to the prestigious Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology in Australia, where she honed her creative skills.
art fuels her commitment to philanthropic endeavours.
Board of Advisors
Entrepreneur
Sanjeev Nanda is the Managing Director of Downtown Investment Management LLC, a Dubai-based holding company for his several ventures. In addition to this, he is also the Managing Director of lshvan Pharmaceuticals, one of the most rapidly growing pharma companies.
When he is not busy with his entrepreneurial ventures, Sanjeev likes to spend his time giving back to the society. One of the most prominent examples of his commitment towards aiding social development is the help he extended to the women in Banjani Village, a small hamlet in Himachal Pradesh, India. Along with his wife Medha Nanda, Sanjeev helped the women to mobilise and establish a self-help group called Mahila Ekta Group. He provided material and logistics support to further the group’s enterprise of paper and cloth bags and often visits the village to assess the progress made by the women’s group.
Financial Advisor
Rania Lahori is a director at Palmongroup and the co-founder of homegrown F&B brands like Pret To Go and El Sur.
With an innate passion for great food and impeccable customer service, as well as an in-depth understanding of market dynamics and a strong business acumen Rania, continues to provide creative, innovative, and forward-thinking initiatives in the group holding company as well as in her private family office, focused on alternative and sustainable investments.
Rania is also committed to giving back to the community which is why the company’s food outlets donate food to blue-collar workers at the end of every evening.
Lawyer
Ashish Mehta is the first licensed, independent Indian lawyer in Dubai. The founder and managing partner of the multi-jurisdictional law practice ASHISH MEHTA ASSOCIATES, he has a list of clients that is is both impressive and diverse. His firm operates in the UAE, India and the UK, representing multinationals, regional and local corporates, ultra-high net worth individuals, and more.
Having nearly 30 years of professional experience, Ashish provides expert analysis and counseling on various legal matters. Most notably and despite his busy schedule, he dedicates time for pro-bono work to help the underprivileged.
Vishal Nagdev is the co-founder of EVENTFAQS Media (India) and POW WOW Marketing (UAE), where he developed acclaimed event properties such as the WOW Awards, Experiential Planner Expo, and Gourmet Entertainment Show.
With 17 years of experience in media, entertainment, and tourism, Vishal has collaborated with over 100 global brands, honing his expertise in event IP creation, sponsorship marketing, and project management. He serves as the Volunteer CEO and Board Advisor for Art Be A Part, contributing his skills to drive impactful initiatives.
Passionate about movement, music, art, and social service, Vishal dedicates 80% of his time to not-for-profit social impact projects.
From a young age, Neel Shukla developed a deep appreciation for art under the guidance of his artist father. Today, he continues to honor this legacy through his own artistic pursuits. His achievements include pioneering the first regional Louvre Museum boutique in Dubai and creating commissioned sculptures and bespoke artworks for multiple hotels, and private residences. A major milestone in his career is the successful establishment of his 100,000 sq. ft. art studio, framing workshop, and crafting atelier in Dubai.
As a leading figure in the art and design industry, Neel remains at the forefront of global design trends while staying connected to his cultural roots. He is renowned for his innovative large-scale sculptures and lighting installations. His philanthropic efforts are also notable; as Art Curator for the “Catch a Cause and a Connection at DXB” exhibition, he collaborated with Dubai Airports to raise awareness about illegal wildlife trade. Additionally, Neel played a key role in developing the Etihad Museum, underscoring his dedication to preserving UAE’s heritage and using art for social impact. His work inspires others to appreciate the transformative power of art.
Namrata Shroff is an accomplished interior architect. As a specialist in childhood spaces, she has won the Good Homes award for children’s solutions. A powerhouse of talent, grace and wisdom Namrata is the founder of NVSDesign, The Couch Potato and a Co-Founder of Powna Sake. She was a speaker at TED x Durbarmarg (2022) and is a supporter of the GlobalGiftFoundation, and a board member of Art Be a Part.
Namrata is also an award-winning and committed member of numerous Young Presidents’ Organization Boards both regionally and internationally. She has gained recognition for her media career and presence (1995 – 2005) during which she featured in over a hundred advertisements, and was the face of Ponds, Fair & Lovely, De Beers, Organics, Bisleri to name a few. She has also presented on ten television shows in India including BBC Style and Star World Top Drive.
