We sat down with Raniya Mansoor: artist, mother, and co-founder of Oevaali Art Shop, to talk about the emotional landscapes behind her art, and how island memory, motherhood, and meaning shape her art practice. Raniya shares how her current pieces hold space for both personal introspection and cultural storytelling. We talk about chasing presence in a fast-moving world, the discipline of making, and what it means to build something enduring through art. Read the full interview here:
What is your favorite colour to use?
Indigo has always been a recurring favorite. It’s deep, complex and calming, like the sea at night.
Morning or night – when do you create best?
Definitely morning. My mind is clearer, and I feel more alert and open. There is daylight filtering into the studio.
A piece you’d never sell?
“Meet me at the Equinox,” a 90 x 60 cm indigo abstract painted in Singapore during the 2021 pandemic. Isolated and far from home, it’s about transition, balance, and inner alignment. In the process, I made the decision to go back home. It now hangs in my office in the Maldives.
A texture you love?
A texture I love is one that builds during the process, like the rough marks that pencils, pastels, paint and brush naturally create. I prefer to leave them uncovered.
First thing you do when you enter your studio?
The first thing I do is tidy up a bit, put away the things I don’t need, and make space. It's a small reset that helps me clear my head.
What mood are you chasing in your art right now?
Right now, I’m chasing the mood of being fully present: slowing down and really noticing. It doesn’t always come naturally to me as I’m more of a planner, but between painting and keeping up with a toddler, learning to stay in the moment is a grounding and essential practice.
If your art was a season, which one would it be?
If my art was a season, it would be autumn: for depth, reflection, and layers.
How do you handle creative blocks?
I reduce the pressure by moving from the canvas, to the sketchbook. It helps me play, warm up, and explore new ideas. Often, just being free with the paint, and making marks helps me find my way back.
Calm or chaos – what does your process feel like?
Mostly chaos, with moments of calm. The mess comes first - layers, marks, ideas. And then, something settles.
How has your art changed from when you first started creating?
I think I’ve changed a lot over the years, and with that, the art has changed too. I’m older now and I carry more lived experiences. My art practice has shifted from what looks good, to what feels good.
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As she continues to explore as an artist, Raniya’s practice offers a reminder to slow down and to create from where you are.
