Meera Lee Patel is a self-taught artist, writer, and internationally recognized best-selling author of several books on mental health and emotional well-being. Her work centers on strengthening the connection readers have with themselves, each other, and the larger world around them. Her books and journals have sold over 1.5 million copies and have been translated into a dozen languages worldwide.
In 2021, Meera was awarded the prestigious Olin Fellowship to pursue her MFA in Illustration & Visual Culture at Washington University in St. Louis, MO, where she expanded her work to include children’s literature. She continues to advocate for greater mental health awareness and education through her ongoing work for both adults and children.
Follow Meera’s work on her Substack here.
Artist Statement:
My work is primarily interested in exploring stories of motherhood, migration, and marginalization through visual storytelling, the third language that arises when written and visual languages merge, illuminating aspects of each other that would otherwise go unnoticed. Can an image become more poignant when paired with a written passage? Does the written voice create a greater impact when we see the expression of the speaker? How can I combine my written and visual voices to say what neither language can say on its own? How can I encourage a reader to genuinely consider another person’s experience with interest, respect, and empathy?
Working in digital and mixed media, this series of collages explores the subjects of war and friendship through the intersection of poetry and visual art.