Ashesh Maharjan

The Bean

Watercolor

10" x 8"

2025

Price: $600

https://www.ashkostudio.com/

This is a watercolor painting of Cloud Gate sculpture I did in anticipation of my first trip to Chicago. I tried to capture the excitement of seeing the iconic sculpture and the urban atmosphere. The focus of the painting happens to be the contrast between glossy organic form of the sculpture, and an angular textured background of Chicago cityscape.

Ashesh Maharjan (b. 1988) is a Nepalese artist based in New York City whose work explores the space between opposites-old and new, East and West, abstract and figurative. Working primarily in watercolor, Maharjan engages in an observational study of light and its interplay with urban architecture and natural elements such as trees, often painting en plein air. These atmospheric studies not only capture the fleeting qualities of the city's landscapes but also serve as the foundation for a series of multi-colored linocut prints, where traditional techniques meet contemporary themes.

Maharjan received his Bachelor's degree in Art from Randolph College in Lynchburg, Virginia, in 2014. His work has been featured in various group exhibitions, including Works on Paper at CoreArt Space in Colorado, Juried Show at Prince Street Gallery, and Ephemeral Threads at Gallery MC in New York. In 2024, he held his first solo exhibition, Watercolors of Sunnyside, at Sunnyside Arts in Queens, Ny.