Biography

Lavanya Shubhakar is a multicultural artist, art educator, and community arts leader
based in Norwich, Connecticut. A self-taught artist with a deep commitment to arts education, Lavanya combines her passion for visual storytelling with her dedication to building bridges between cultures through creative expression. She works as Director of Education at an art museum where she develops inclusive, culturally responsive programs that engage learners of all ages and backgrounds.

Her journey as an artist began in childhood, deeply influenced by her father, an
engineer and town planner, whose intricate city plans and illustrations sparked her
fascination with line, form, and narrative. Since then, Lavanya has continued to explore
and refine her work across a variety of media, including painting, drawing, sculpture,
stained-glass mosaics, and mixed media.

Lavanya’s teaching philosophy centers on human-centered learning and cultural
appreciation. She believes art has the power to create empathy, promote dialogue, and
build community across differences. Her work as an educator is grounded in the belief
that students thrive when they see their own cultures reflected and valued in the
learning process.

In addition to her leadership in museum education, Lavanya is actively involved in
community-based art projects that reflect the voices, values, and identities of the local
population. She creates custom, meaningful artworks designed to meet the unique
needs of the communities and organizations she collaborates with.

A specialist in Indian cultural art forms, Lavanya works in traditional techniques such as mandala, rangoli, henna, kundan, and meenakari. She shares these practices in
workshops and public events, using them as a way to celebrate heritage and introduce
diverse audiences to the richness of South Asian artistic traditions.

Lavanya is also a proud mother of two daughters, and her roles as artist, educator, and parent are deeply interwoven. Her life’s work is driven by a vision of art as a tool for
education, cultural understanding, and connection.