FORMAL ABOUT ME...
Jetshri Bhadviya is a curator, educator, designer, and new media artist exploring the relationship between the human body, space, and its social, political, and spiritual contexts through video, sound, performance, and photography. Her work focuses on surreal and unorganized bodily states, often objectifying the body and the space it occupies.
She holds an MFA in Photography from Cranbrook Academy of Art and a BFA in Studio Arts from the American University in Dubai. Since 2015, she has taught as an adjunct at the College for Creative Studies and Oakland University in Michigan.
As a Curatorial Assistant at the Detroit Institute of Arts, Jetshri facilitated exhibitions addressing identity, gender politics, immigration, and climate change, prioritizing artists from BIPOC, LGBTQ, and other marginalized communities. She has served as the Art and Cultural Commissioner for Hamtramck, Michigan.
Jetshri’s exhibitions span venues such as the Grand Rapids Art Museum, Kresge Arts Foundation, and David Klein Gallery in Michigan, as well as international sites like Dubai’s Sheikha Manal Young Artist Foundation, where she was named a top-ten artist in 2011. She also received the prestigious Toby Dewan Lewis Fellowship Award in 2015, recognizing outstanding MFA graduates across the U.S.
**Credit to Photographer Jeff Cancelosi for this beautiful portrait of me.
A LITTLE ABOUT MY WAY OF THINKING, MY ART PRACTICE AND RESEARCH INTERESTS...
As an artist, I explore the layered complexities of identity, culture, and the human condition through photography, performance, sound, and sculpture. My practice is deeply influenced by my upbringing practicing Jainism, an ancient Indian religion centered on non-violence, asceticism, and the pursuit of spiritual liberation. Alongside this, a formative period studying Kathak, a classical Indian dance form, instilled in me an appreciation for rhythm, storytelling, and discipline. These early experiences shape my understanding of the tension between tradition and self-expression, which remains central to my work.
While Jainism’s principles of self-restraint and detachment have informed my philosophical perspective, my art seeks to transcend these foundational teachings by exploring how constructs such as gender, class, and religion define and confine us. Through my performance works and their photographic traces, I create spaces where identity dissolves. Whether encased in ropes woven with bells—symbols of societal expectations—or concealed within translucent, amorphous fabric forms, my body becomes a site of interrogation and transformation.
The photographs I create extend beyond documentation, embodying a tension between beauty and erasure. By obscuring the subject, these images challenge the viewer to question the markers of identity they rely on—gender, place, and personal history—while inviting them into a space of pre-identity, where movement and existence take precedence over categorization.
Sound is equally integral to my practice, forming auditory landscapes that parallel the visual layers. In #CheckYourMisconceptionsAtTheDoor, for instance, I emerge from amorphous forms, accompanied by a voice that resists identification:
“Can you see me?
Why do you think I’m here?
I am unwilling to disclose my identity.
I’m no one.
I’m not from here.
I’m not from anywhere.”
This is both a personal declaration and an invitation for others to consider what lies beneath the surface. My art challenges the viewer to let go of preconceptions and embrace the fluidity of being. In a world increasingly defined by labels and binaries, I offer a space where the absence of identity becomes its most profound presence.
COMMUNITY STATEMENT...
I am committed to creating inclusive, dynamic spaces that amplify underrepresented voices and foster meaningful cultural exchanges. Through my work as a curator, educator, and artist, I strive to build platforms where diverse communities can thrive, ensuring that marginalized perspectives are visible, heard, and valued. Whether through exhibitions, performances, or collaborative projects, I seek to engage the public in critical dialogues about identity, representation, and social justice. My work aims to bridge gaps and encourage greater understanding, not just within the art world, but within broader social and cultural contexts. By fostering collaboration and offering opportunities for dialogue, I hope to inspire empathy, challenge stereotypes, and create a more equitable and inclusive future for the arts and society as a whole.
THE EDUCATOR IN ME...
With over a decade of experience, I guide students in lens-based practices, blending technical skills with conceptual depth. My approach adapts to individual needs, fostering critical thinking and creative exploration. Outside the classroom, I connect students with exhibitions and collaborative opportunities, empowering them to contribute meaningfully to the cultural landscape.
THE CURATOR IN ME...
As a curator, I am dedicated to creating spaces where diverse voicesand perspectives can thrive. My practice is driven by the belief that art hasthe power to challenge norms, spark dialogue, and amplify underrepresentedexperiences. Through the exhibitions and spaces l have curated, I seek to foster inclusion, empathy, and social change, encouraging meaningful conversations that transcend the artwork itself.