Irene Rajagopal
fine artist
Artist Statement
I paint to remain present with what is fleeting.
My work is rooted in understanding light. Trained in the classical atelier tradition and shaped by a lifelong love of writing, my practice is both disciplined and contemplative: a way of dwelling with silence and seeing slowly. Lately, I have explored egg tempera and silverpoint, drawn to their soft luminosity and timeless restraint.
In this, painting is not only an image but an act of listening—a way to stay.
This quiet act of painting extends naturally into my studio practice and the rhythms of daily observation, where light and stillness become constant companions.
Artist’s Biography
Irene Rajagopal is a painter and draftsperson based in the Seattle area, Washington. Trained at the Classical Atelier and Flack Drawing Atelier, Gage Academy of Art (2018–2024), her practice centers on observation and meditative contemplation, drawing from both rigorous study and lived experience.
Her work has been exhibited in juried shows and regional galleries, reflecting an approach that bridges technical discipline and poetic restraint. She has also received recognition through awards and professional affiliations, including:
Memberships
• Elected Artist Member, American Artists Professional League (AAPL)
Exhibitions (Selected)
• Pacific Northwest Figurative Realism Art, Group Show, Art Love Salon, July 2025
• Plein Air Views of Washington, The Magnuson Park Gallery with PAWA, Juried Show, June -July 2025
• Best of Gage 2025, Gage Academy of Art, Group Show, Seattle, WA
• Edmonds Arts Festival Juried Gallery Show, Edmonds, WA, June 2025
• Memories: From Classical to Abstract, Solo Exhibition, Mercer Island, WA, Jan–Mar 2025
• Winter Show of Small Works and Miniatures, Juried Group Show, Parklane Gallery, Kirkland, WA, Oct–Dec 2024
• NuDNW, Graphite Arts Center, Juried Group Show, Edmonds, WA December 2024
• Eight Inches By, Graphite Arts Center, Juried Group Show, Edmonds, WA June 2024
Awards
• Honorable Mention, 24th Annual Pastel 100 Competition, Pastel Journal, 2023
• Second Place, Landscape Category, Best of Gage, 2025
Publications
• Pastel Journal Magazine, March 2023
Other Education
• Degrees in law from China, UK and U.S.
Orchids, Barely Speaking” (2025) · Oil on linen panel
For inquiries or conversations about my work, I welcome you to reach out.