The sun is shining, the flowers are blooming, and Art by Shalimar is gearing up for its first spring exhibit on Saturday, April 16, 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Shalimar Waffa, a self-taught artist who has been painting professionally for 10 years, opened her gallery and studio in downtown Cary toward the end of 2021. She has sold pieces in Europe, Canada, Australia and over 38 states in the US. With her first spring exhibit on the horizon, we spoke with Waffa about her upcoming show, inspiration and experience owning a local gallery.

Tell us about your studio and art!

The Gallery

My studio is located in the heart of downtown Cary. I use it as both my workspace and my showroom. I worked hard to make it a modern and open gallery space where I hold exhibits quarterly. I plan to periodically feature local artists on certain weekends throughout the year and eventually host or rent my space for events. 

How has your experience been, owning a gallery/studio in Cary?

It has been so awesome to meet so many locals. Prior to having my own space, I did the majority of my sales out of state and even outside the country, but have always wanted to share my work within my own community. The business community in Cary is really special, and I’ve made some great friends.

What is your favorite piece, to date? 

A piece called “Wild Hearts, Wildflowers.” It is the painting I stand in front of in my headshot. It was inspired by the printed tie my husband wore at our wedding. Check out my Instagram, @artbyshalimar, to see the blog and photos from this collection. 

Tell us more about the spring show!

I will be featuring modern landscapes and vibrant floral bouquets for this spring 2022 exhibit. I will have live music by talented local musician, Ari Pappalardo. Admission is free and so are the nibbles and drinks I’ll be providing. Paintings are pre-selling and will be sold at the event on a first-come, first-served basis, so don’t be late!

What inspires you?

If you check out my Instagram, I’ve done collections inspired by everything from beautiful, exotic birds to my personal struggles with infertility. I’ve done collections exploring places, memories, dreams, and even my own wedding. With art, my inspiration is truly limitless. Color and texture speak to me the loudest, and I use it to connect the audience with whatever I’m exploring. 

artbyshalimar.com

@artbyshalimar