Preeti Singh Manrao
Bethesda, MD
“No matter how much we plan, life can unfold in unexpected ways.”
Preeti Singh Manrao is a self-taught abstract artist whose work radiates resilience, gratitude, and the quiet beauty found in impermanence. Her journey into art began not as a lifelong pursuit, but as a profound act of transformation. In 2019, Preeti faced a life-altering challenge when she was diagnosed with blood cancer – an experience that reshaped her perception of time, purpose, and creativity. “It slowed me down to appreciate life a little more ‘moment-by-moment,” she reflects. “In response, I got inspired to capture these unnoticeable yet profoundly impactful moments by making marks on the canvas.”
Preeti’s creations are informed by her worldly view. She was born and lived in India, but later lived in countries such as Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Her travel stories and the nuances of the culture she experienced broadened her perspective. For example, the Japanese reverence for impermanence – the notion that nothing lasts forever – taught her humility and appreciation for the transient nature of things. “Both these experiences and learnings are a great inspiration for my art and highly influence the process,” she shares. Her paintings often embody this sense of transience and renewal, where colors flow and fade, leaving behind delicate traces of motion and memory.
For Preeti, painting is an immersive, meditative practice. “When I immerse myself in color and craft, the outside world fades away,” she says. Music often fills her studio as she works, an intentional choice that allows her to focus deeply. “I often play loud music in my studio to drown out the mental noise – it silences the inner dialogue and helps me enter a state of flow. In that space, I stop dwelling on the past or worrying about things beyond my control. Instead, I reclaim my time and energy, channeling it into creating something meaningful and fulfilling.”
Art became both an outlet and a form of healing. One of the most meaningful moments in her life occurred on the day of her stem cell transplant, when she created her first abstract artwork. “My nurse looked at it and said it resembled a cell – how fitting, she noted, as I had received new cells and experienced a kind of second birth. That thought stayed with me.” From that day forward, painting became an essential part of her recovery and identity. “More than anything, the act of creating helped me forget my pain and fear, even if just for a while. It felt transformative.” Since then, she has painted nearly every day, embracing the process as a source of strength and renewal.
Preeti’s earliest exposure to art came through her mother, in a household full of creativity – pottery, fabric painting, and oil on canvas. “I often found myself trying to join in, but more often than not, I didn’t enjoy it. I was too focused on getting everything ‘just right,’ and that pursuit of perfection often left me frustrated,” she recalls. Years later, art found her again, this time not as a task to perfect, but as a space to surrender. “Art is therapeutic- a direct reflection inward. To me, it’s the purest form of expression, where thoughts and emotions take shape outwardly in their most honest form.”
Her process is tactile and intuitive. “I begin by gently caressing the canvas, allowing myself to ‘be one’ with it. Then I pour paint and move it around with my fingers. This act unfolds an undulating dance between the canvas and the paint- a moment that feels uniquely significant, a once-in-a-lifetime encounter.” As layers of color dry, they leave behind marks that serve as testaments to that fleeting yet profound moment of creation.
Through her work, Preeti explores connection between the self, others, and the present moment. “As humans, we naturally seek social connection, and art enhances that by allowing us to feel and connect beyond everyday interactions,” she says. She finds deep alignment with ArtLifting’s mission of creating meaningful opportunities for artists, especially within the medical space. Her art seeks to inspire, bring joy, and remind viewers of the resilience of the human spirit.
Today, Preeti considers her greatest accomplishment not an exhibition or accolade, but balance: “To stay healthy and take care of my family while continuing to grow and improve as an artist.” When not painting, she loves traveling with her family, watching cinema, and exploring art videos, always surrounded by creativity. Her story is one of courage and grace, a reminder that even in moments of great uncertainty, art has the power to heal, connect, and transform.
