Meet Neha Patel of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Neha Patel.

Hi Neha, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I got married and joined my husband’s company, Myriann, to help him grow the agency. That’s really where my professional journey in design began.

Even before that, I always had a passion for web design. In high school, I competed in web design competitions across the state of Louisiana as part of the FBLA club. My curiosity about seeing my own designs live on the Internet pushed me to learn HTML on my own using Microsoft FrontPage at the time. In 2006, I sold a few websites to small local businesses and it was the start of something new! It wasn’t a huge trend yet, but I found real joy and meaning in creating something that solved someone else’s needs.

I met my husband in college. He had already started a branding and web development company, and I was immediately drawn to his vision and entrepreneurial spirit. After we got married, one of his UI/UX designers suddenly left and I offered to step in and help. Before I knew it, I had transitioned into a full-time role. Working alongside him was incredibly fulfilling.

A few years later, in 2015, we had our son, and I chose to step back to focus on raising our children. During that time at home, I spent a lot of time thinking about the environment I wanted to create for them. Our walls were bare, and while my mom, mother-in-law, and grandmother-in-law strongly believed in having traditional religious or spiritual artwork in the home, I wanted something that would also fit our modern aesthetic.

So, I decided to create digital icons of their favorite deities and spiritual figures. It was a beautiful way to honor their wishes while staying true to our style. Beyond that, it helped me explore and strengthen my own Indian identity. My life had been very American, and I wanted to pass on that cultural connection to my children as well. Creating these icons felt completely natural—it was just another creative project, but this time it was deeply personal.

When I eventually shared them on Instagram, the response was immediate and overwhelming. Many other Indian-American moms navigating the same cultural balancing act reached out. That’s when I realized there was a real need and desire for art that beautifully represents Indian-American identity.

This art journey has been so fulfilling because I get to create pieces that help families like mine feel connected to their heritage in a way that feels authentic and modern to them.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
I don’t think any entrepreneur’s journey is a smooth road and that is especially true for mothers. Me choosing motherhood over my career as an artist is always a difficult balance to strike but as my kids get older, I am finding more opportunities to get back into the world of art.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My work symbolizes the intersection of Indian roots with modern concepts. My goal is to take recognized ancient depictions of spiritual icons and re-introduce them in a minimalistic interpretation.

Recently, I collaborated with the Atlanta United to unveil a scarf that paid homage to my people and my heritage. To be able to tell that story on a global platform is something I am very proud of and the response has been truly overwhelming!

I only like to make pieces that are needed and not necessarily the pieces that I want to make. I think that sets me apart from other artists. I believe I’m just a vessel and when one of my pieces can help bridge a gap in a story, I like to create it. Then I wait until the next opportunity chooses me.

Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
As an artist, networking by the definition of networking is not something I do. It’s honestly not something I enjoy doing either.

The more I have to network in a traditional sense, the further I get taken from my calling as an artist. Networking creates leads, leads create messages and calls, and that inevitably drowns out my inner voice.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.artofneha.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/artofneha