Pranav Sood is recognized in art circles for his compelling use of color and dreamlike storytelling. His pieces stand out in a gallery, much like those of Keith Haring and Andy Warhol, and demand attention. I was fortunate enough to share my interview with Pranav four years ago, before he moved to New York. At the time, he was brimming with excitement, confident he’d shake the art world with his perspective and vision-—a tall order, but a familiar one for any young artist in their 20s eager to leave their mark.
Those last four years proved to be inspiring and humbling for Pranav: each bringing its own set of challenges and chances. The first year was “the pandemic, so it was difficult to make connections,” says Pranav. “I thought that though New York is big, at the same time, the art world is small, so I would meet people and make friends. I saw it as an opportunity—New York as a stopped subway train that I could hop on easily. Everyone was open to scheduling a Zoom call when I reached out to them on Instagram. I rented a private studio, where I immediately started painting and building inventory so when everything was back to normal, I could invite people to show my work.”

Thrilled with his first year living his dream in the city, there were still a few transitions in culture he wasn’t prepared for. In Madison and much of Wisconsin, people want to celebrate events on the day of and enjoy the company of one another in the moment. In Queens and New York City, your special moment has to fit into everyone’s schedule, or it might not happen. So even on days that were months or years in the making, like an art exhibition, Pranav would return to an empty home or studio and just try to occupy himself.
Being alone afforded him more studio time to focus on work and contemplate his experiences, opening more doors of perception to better see who he is in the world. New Yorkers, to him, are tough and decisive. Is this who he wanted to be? Who he aspired to be? Or was his “Indian, rosy-colored positivity” one of those parts of himself he’d carry through each new present?
These thoughts are sometimes just too much for him to simply think through, and when they start to carry a theme, the end result is often a painting. Much like murals in the Indian temples he grew up with, there are recurring characters and ideas in his paintings, providing opportunity for the viewer to make sense of the order and create a story.

“Though my paintings are very open ended, joyful, and full of positivity, they aren’t just characters. I want people to see the agitation behind them. Sometimes when people feel hurt or low, they can see a painting and actually connect with some meaning. I don’t want to give my audience preplanned answers.”
His approach was further validated in 2022, when Pranav was selected to create a site-specific public mural, commissioned by the New York City Department of Education, New York City Construction Authority’s Public Art for Public Schools program, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs Percent for Art program. From concept to installation, the whole thing took three years, fulfilling his long-standing dream to have a public mural in the “City of Murals.”
“The project was created for the Oscar de la Renta Education Campus, specifically the elementary and middle school students. Each panel represents different aspects of life—moments and emotions we experience every day, every month, and throughout our entire journey. It reflects the steps we take toward achieving our dreams. I hope that anyone who views it will understand that dreams begin with inspiration and that the process is filled with positivity and possibility. Along the way, we meet unique individuals, but there will also be times when we feel lost or discouraged—when the answers aren’t clear. In those moments, it’s important to pause, take a deep breath, and find stillness. Eventually, the clarity you need will come, and in time, everything will fall into place. The next day, you’ll begin again, renewed with fresh inspiration.”

The mural, porcelain enamel on steel for the entry façade of the school, is entitled I Am More Than Who I Am. The panels are presented next to the building’s wheelchair access, so a person experiencing them up close is ascending to the final piece. Though the order of the pieces is intentional, viewers won’t necessarily connect with them chronologically—something Pranav believes is part of appreciating his paintings. Whatever is going on in a person’s life, on any given day, a painting might start having a lot more to say.
While conceptualizing the mural, Pranav also got married. The experience of a strong and intimate friendship lends itself to many of his pieces and provides him welcome day-to-day interactions. “I find marriage is the best. Now she’s living with me, so no more video calls or time differences. I have someone to talk to anytime and party with. I can share what I’m thinking, what I want to do, and how I’m going to do it. In return, I receive valuable insights and, sometimes, better approaches.”
With a style that has defined the early part of Pranav’s art career, he shares with me that the future might start to show a transition in medium. “I want to explore sculptures,” he says. “3-D objects, relief things, freestanding sculptures.” It would provide a fantastic complement to the stories he’s already developed as a visual artist.

Pranav is defined by his need to continually discover himself. Each endeavor is a new voyage, but through his journey, he’s learned that he isn’t at peace manning the ship. His role isn’t that of a fighter or a decider. He’s an astute observer. The poet with a brush trying to capture the feeling of what comes before him, trusting the moment to place him where he needs to be.
“When I started, I was full of youthful energy—fresh out of grad school. The first three years in New York taught me the survival skills I needed to navigate a city like New York. I felt like a small piece of wood drifting on the tide, observing and learning from every challenge. Now, my goal is to become something more—like a debris in a storm, growing beyond my own expectations and embracing the chaos to transform.”
Kyle Jacobson is a writer who sees things for what they aren’t.
Photographs by Nicholas Knight.
You can find Pranav’s work at Abel Contemporary Gallery in Stoughton, WI, and at pranavsood.art.
2020 “Pranav Sood: Neon Tints and Love Footprints” Article