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.
the context
We find ourselves at the crossroads of empowering the artistic community with a purpose and connecting philanthropists with the right cause to support.
UNICEF
By supporting organizations like UNICEF India and Dubai Cares, we are dedicated to using art as a vehicle for positive change.
In Support of
Featured Artists
Featured Artists
Our featured artists are the creative voices that drive our mission, invoking thought and inspiring dialogue through their creations. Using art as a medium of communication, they shine a spotlight on what matters most, inviting our participation.
Natalia Kapchuk
Natalia Kapchuk’s environmentally centered mixed-media works tap into the unbridled beauty of our planet juxtaposed to the destructive forces of human activity and the impacts they have on these majestic lands and oceans. Adorned with natural elements and the innovations of the 21st century, Kapchuk constructs her art pieces with the intention of highlighting the ongoing war between man and nature, often painting opposing scenes of wonder with the harsh realities of today. The use of vibrant colors and uniquely selected materials of the artist have a penetrating effect on the psyche, often leaving observers in a state of action and self reflection.
Gathering inspiration from the wonders of nature, Natalia Kapchuk explores the world, paying close attention to pressing global issues like environmental concerns caused by anthropogenic impacts. These observations have a heavy influence on her creative approach and aesthetic. Kapchuk is an ambassador at The Parliamentary Society of Arts, Fashion and Sports(UK), an ambassador for the Better World Fund (BWF), and a philanthropist supporting charities and organizations dedicated to protecting the lands and oceans of the world.
https://kapchukart.com/Paresh Maity
Renowned and acclaimed artist Paresh Maity was born in the historical town of Tamluk, close to Kolkata in 1965.Spanning nearly four decades of his artistic oeuvre, he has created and explored various mediums in art including water colour, oil and acrylic paintings, mixed media, sculptures and photography.
During the last 35 years, he has held 88 solo exhibitions and his work that includes a diverse ensemble of landscapes, abstracts, portraits and figures has been widely exhibited in galleries, museums and art fairs in India and across the globe.
Paresh Maity has been felicitated by various national and international institutions including the Royal Watercolour Society, London, the All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society, British Council, and is recipient of one of the highest civilian awards, the Padma Shri, from the Government of India. Most recently in 2024, he was conferred with A Doctor of Literature (D.Litt.) degree from Sir Padampat Singhania University, Udaipur.
http://paresh-maity.com/Sawyer Franz
Sawyer has been an avid photographer since being taught by his mother who was able to travel and take photos across the world. Her film and portrait photography inspired him to try and see the world through a difference lens and capture moments in time that define an element of detail as well as an element of inspiration.
Often his work is focused on nature; however, he has been branching into the human and built world more and more. What started as taking photos of bees sitting in his parents garden waiting for hours until they would not be afraid of his presence has now turned into a lifelong passion of trying to take pictures which challenge his skills as well as allow him to preserve his own memories to share with others. He deeply enjoys being able to share times that he felt very close to the natural world.
Sawyer also operates a charity of his own, Branches Community Projects, which build infrastructure for communities in underserved areas. Usually this is schools or education based infrastructure. His current project is outside of Arusha in Tanzania which will be completed in June of 2025 and service 150 students as well as a community of over 5000 people.
https://branchescommunityprojects.org/homeHaran Kumar
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.
https://www.instagram.com/haranfineart/?hl=enRocco Ritchie
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.
Lorenzo Quinn
Contemporary Italian artist Lorenzo Quinn is a leading figurative sculptor whose work is inspired by such masters as Michelangelo, Bernini and Rodin. Exhibited internationally, his monumental public art and smaller, more intimate pieces transmit his passion for eternal values and authentic emotions.
His father, the Oscar Award winning Mexican American actor Anthony Quinn, had a profound influence on him, both in terms of living in the limelight of the film world and with respect to Anthony’s early work in painting and sculpting architecture.
He is best known for expressive recreations of human hands. ‘I wanted to sculpt what is considered the hardest and most technically challenging part of the human body’, he asserts ‘The hand holds so much power – the power to love, to hate, to create, to destroy.
https://lorenzoquinn.com/Mr. Dripp / Mark Rios
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.
https://www.instagram.com/whosmr.drip/?hl=enDomingo Zapata
Domingo Zapata is a Spanish-American artist born in Palma de Mallorca, Spain. Zapata has maintained studios New York City, Los Angeles, Palma, and Southern France. He travels continually, looking for new inspiration and studios to bring life to his creations. He paints in both oil and acrylic, often incorporating mixed-media, collage, and graffiti.
For over 25 years, Zapata has built a body of work, which varies significantly in motif, though consistently explores themes of sexuality, opulence, and vitality in his signature style. In this distinctive hand, Zapata layers fantasy and reality, luring the viewer into his potent, cosmically beautiful world. Known for his signature Polo series, which first gained him critical acclaim, more recent work includes collections of Zapata Rhinos, Hollywood icons, and images inspired by his native Spanish culture. He often draws on his experiences as a songwriter (Zapata co-wrote lyrics for Michael Jackson and Jon Secada), and exposes his deeply poetic imagination by incorporating text and visual cues into many of his works. In this way, his images coax the viewer into his realm where fact and fiction persist simultaneously, fortifying each other’s beauty, depth, and meaning.
https://www.dzapata.com/Lorenzo Agius
Born to Maltese parents and growing up in London, Lorenzo started his career by producing the memorable and iconic images of Ewan McGregor and cast of Danny Boyle's groundbreaking film Trainspotting, to then celebrate U.K’s Cool Britannia with Oasis front man Liam Gallagher and Patsy Kensit laying on a Union Jack bedspread for the cover of Vanity Fair.
With his highly considered approach to photography, Lorenzo consistently produces a diverse, humorous and highly refined range of work. He has become known as one of the preeminent portrait photographers of his generation and continues to work in conjunction with numerous commercial, film and editorial clients around the world.
https://www.lorenzo-agius.com/#thumbs-20Chris Fallows
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.
https://www.chrisfallows.com/Bradley Theodore
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.
https://www.bradleytheodore.com/Maryam Sharaf Alhashmi
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”.
https://www.instagram.com/maryamxsharaf/Tina Gavasheli
Tina Gavasheli, a versatile artist, explores the complexities of emotional perception through a multidisciplinary approach. Her work is based on the idea that the mind interprets feelings through stimuli such as color, texture, shape, and movement. Tina's artistic journey delves into the interconnected realms of music, memories, and emotions.
With a keen focus on the distinctive blend of femininity and strength, Tina's art becomes a canvas for exploring the profound connections between these elements. Each stroke and layer in her creations speak to the unique interplay of vulnerability and resilience, resulting in a body of work that resonates with the complexities of the human spirit.
https://gavasheliart.com/Elena Fedosenko
An international professional artist and art teacher who was born in Russia. While living in Goa and enjoying its natural beauty, Elena could not ignore the other important part of surrounding life – the sacred cows. Along with painting these beautiful creatures, she observed their pain and real problems.
As a result of seeing injured animals in need of medical treatment and a place for rehabilitation, Elena started volunteering in the local shelters and animal welfare organizations. The collaboration resulted in production of a calendar, with each month represented by unique cow painting, and all sales were donated to Goa animal welfare.
https://www.instagram.com/artist.fedosenko/Steven Graver
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.
http://stevenleegraver.in/Luke Goss
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.
https://www.instagram.com/thelukegoss/?hl=enSushma Jain
Sushma Jain is a woman of many talents whose passion for wildlife finds expression in her realistic paintings, celebrating the beauty of nature. Her oil paintings of animals tell stories through their eyes, inviting viewers to connect with the natural world and deepen their appreciation for the role nature plays in our lives.
Sushma’s artwork serves as a powerful platform for raising awareness about the importance of wildlife protection and conservation. She believes people should cherish animals, not harm them. All proceeds from the sale of her paintings go toward the construction and development of an animal hospital in Lonavala, Maharashtra, which will provide care for all animals. In addition, she is actively involved with the Raksha Foundation, an NGO founded by her son Harsh Jain, dedicated to animal welfare and the education of underprivileged children.
https://www.sushmajart.com/Hermoine Macura-Noble
Hermoine is the author of the book “Faces of the Middle East” and the first Australian female English speaking TV news anchor in the Arab world. Reaching audiences of up to 80 Million, Hermoine was one of the main anchors on Dubai One TV's Emirates News and her portfolio includes the delivery of live-to-air news bulletins, frequently whilst being in the midst of breaking stories both locally and across the Middle East. She has also hosted hundreds of other shows, including the three-hour live launch of the tallest tower in the world and more recently “Pride of the Nation” featured on Fox TV Middle East and “Arabian Delights” on Sky TV.
Hermoine’s artworks have been exhibited and sold at various galleries across the world, including the Agora Gallery in NYC, The Reagan Center and Mellin building in Washington DC and the Gaffa gallery in Sydney, Australia.
Moved by the injustice and violence inflicted on women in India, Hermoine travelled across the country to document and capture the unseen side of the women of India – their strength and beauty – from birth to death. Her artwork, “The Heart of Mumbai” is a celebration of the hope and courage that is found in each generation of women, to bring light, love and justice to a broken world.
meet the
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.
Medha's professional career blossomed with the launch of her private fashion label, with a clientele of film stars and leaders from the business and political spheres. Upon relocating to Dubai, she transitioned from fashion to the fine arts, dedicating herself to painting and founding Art be a Part, where her profound connection to
art fuels her commitment to philanthropic endeavours.
Board of Advisors
Neel Shukla
Namrata Shroff
Sanjeev Nanda
Rania Lahori
Ashish Mehta
Vishal Nagdev
Neel Shukla
Art Curator
Four Seasons Ramesh Gallery
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
Philanthropist
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.
Sanjeev Nanda
Entrepreneur
Downtown Investment Management LLC
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.
Rania Lahori
Financial Advisor
Palmongroup
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.
Ashish Mehta
Lawyer
Ashish Mehta & Associates LLC
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
Volunteer CEO
POW WOW Marketing
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.