Let’s face it — the “arts scene” can be intimidating, and for many of us, peering into a gallery window is the only way to avoid imposter syndrome. Will you be watched like a hawk the minute you walk into the door, or asked if you prefer gouache painting over encaustic? The world of professional art can often be gate-keepy and exclusive, but artist Shalimar Waffa — owner of Art by Shalimar in downtown Cary — is tearing down those gates one story at a time.
One of Waffa’s favorite pieces — Wild Hearts, Wildflowers, a part of her wedding collection — was inspired by the tie her husband wore at their wedding.
“I try to have a purpose and a story behind every piece, because I want people to be able to connect with me through the art,” said Waffa. “That is my ultimate goal. When my creative juices stop flowing, I need to reset, because I want every piece to have as much intention as possible.”
All of Waffa’s pieces have a story behind them, but Reflections Under a Rainbow — a collection expressing her infertility journey through art — continues to reach hundreds of thousands of women, worldwide.
Marked by moments of hope, loss, and grief, Waffa’s experience is poignantly chronicled on her blog — from her very first loss, to the birth of her “rainbow baby,” Rowan Bennett, in 2020.
“Art can be a medium of self-reflection and personal exploration; that was certainly my intent in painting this collection,” wrote Waffa. “But it can also be a medium of social change. In the same way art can challenge us personally and provoke thought, it can also challenge convention, push boundaries, and inspire dialogue, sometimes around subjects that are difficult to talk about.”
As a self-taught artist who has been painting for the last 18 years, Waffa opened her gallery and studio in downtown Cary toward the end of 2021. Prior to that, Waffa had spent many years as a successful nurse.
“I grew up very much in a Filipino household, and Filipinos are very strict with nursing school/med school,” said Waffa. “I went to a little college in Charlotte called Queens, and I got my nursing degree, but through college I started painting because I’ve always wanted to do art. I’d sell art on the side of the street like lemonade as a child, and I always got in trouble because I drew on my homework assignments.”
During her time in nursing school, Waffa discovered her niche: vibrant, modern florals.
Waffa’s father, Rick Crosby, pictured with Parisian Fall — Waffa’s very first floral, and his personal favorite.
“I love them; they’re chaotic and beautiful, and they can sometimes be calming. I just like the randomness of flowers, and I like the vibrant pops,” said Waffa. “The very first time I did a floral I was 19 years old. I was in an apartment with a garage, and I took paint and I did it in like 35 minutes. … It was called Parisian Fall. It was my dad’s favorite piece, who passed away from ALS four years ago. The painting sold, but I was able to get him a print of it for his home, so in his last few days he was looking at this painting that kind of really started everything for me as far as my floral journey went. It was like his therapy when he was struggling in his last few days.”
Waffa’s pieces have definitely found their audience, whether it’s women struggling with infertility or the overwhelmed health care professionals she worked alongside for years. Interestingly, the veterinary community is one the most surprising beneficiaries of Waffa’s therapeutic artwork.
“Veterinarians have the highest rate of suicide right now; it’s really tragic,” said Waffa. “I’ve learned that veterinarians are obsessed with art because it’s really therapy in itself. I’m not even kidding — probably over 200 personal sales have been just through the vet community.”
When it comes to sharing her artwork with clients, Waffa’s husband, a veterinarian and the co-founder of Truss Vet – Veterinary Urgent Care in Cary, doesn’t have to be asked twice.
“Shal outfitted Truss Vet with all the artwork in the clinic, and I get compliments almost daily on the style and design,” said Brad. “Our aesthetic was an important part of the experience we want our clients to have, and the artwork — that splash of vibrancy — really can have a tremendous impact on the feel of a space.”
It was through the veterinary community that Waffa met her gallery director, Michael Meilstrup, who has worked with her since her studio opening.
“Shal inspires me, and I get the privilege to be here throughout the week to watch her work and pick her brain while she is putting her heart on the canvas,” said Meilstrup. “I think she is someone who wants to inspire other people, who wants to connect with others, connect with the community, to build something. She’s extremely nurturing and caring and kind — you can see that with her interactions with random people that walk in; you can see that in the interactions with her husband and her daughter. I think those really well define who she is.”
As a self-described empath, the nursing world was hard on Waffa, and she found her own therapy in the strokes of a palette knife. Waffa’s unexpected pregnancy, particularly during Covid, was just the push she needed to make the move from nursing to pursuing art full time.
Waffa’s artwork is displayed in her studio for passersby to enjoy.
“I decided to take the leap, and I was so nervous,” said Waffa, who made a painting based on that leap called Courage. “I was planning on going to anesthesia school and going further in my nursing career, but I was getting so burned out. My husband and I contacted a real estate broker and got this space in November 2020 when I was pregnant, and I haven’t turned back.”
At the moment, 70% to 80% of Waffa’s sales are shipped, but Waffa and Meilstrup hope to use their space in downtown Cary to flip those numbers and focus on selling locally.
“Since I’ve had the space, we’ve had about five big shows, and they’re packed,” said Waffa, whose next show is scheduled for May 13. “My last show I had close to 250 people that came through.”
For those who aren’t particularly interested in florals, Waffa extends her reach by offering themed modern abstract pieces and dabbling in beach, tree, and forest scenes.
“Shal does branch out when she’s inspired,” said Meilstrup. “Like a beach series, a spark of light series, or a rainbow series. The thing that I’ve been able to see over the past couple of years now is that it helps expand her typical work. It’s really cool to see that even the florals and the contemporary stuff evolves because she’s experimenting.”
“We know the art scene, the art space, can be intimidating, and that’s one of the barriers we’re trying to break through,” added Meilstrup. “There are so many times when we see people walk past and they just peer through the window, and we’re like, just come in! We are warm and friendly.”
To learn more about (and view) Waffa’s colorful stories, visit her studio at 121 E. Chatham St. or artbyshalimar.com.
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