Over the past year, Yaminee Patel has narrowed her artistic focus, centering rice as the medium for her work. A symbol of sustenance, survival, hard work, and culinary tradition, rice is a deeply important element in many cultures around the world. It also represents the idea of sharing a meal together, creating human-to-human connection, which is a theme  threaded through much of Patel’s work.

“I’ve always been drawn to the concept of community—how we build connection in an individualistic society and whether we truly see and hear one another’s sacrifices,” the artist says. 

In her first solo show, Rice, Roots and the Road to Cultural Exploration (opening May 8 at Common Area Maintenance), Patel dives into the journey food takes to reach the tables: from the fingertips of farmers to the shelves of grocery stores and into to people’s homes. Her intricate pieces, made from rice, corn, lentils, and other dry goods, depict moments throughout the crop growth and gathering cycle, giving viewers an intimate snapshot into the human-centric processes that yield their food. 

Artist Yaminee Patel in front of two piece from her rice series: Rice Farmer on the left, and Rice Sifter on the right. Her pieces take up to four months (and four bottles of Elmer’s glue) to complete.

Courtesy of Yaminee Patel

“I like to examine my cultural background through an academic lens rather than a purely nostalgic one, “Patel says. “At times, I’ve felt a bit of imposter syndrome or a fear of looking foolish for what I didn’t know about my heritage. By removing the emotional weight and approaching these themes with controlled curiosity I’m able to pull elements from my past to the forefront and inspect them closely.”

Patel’s show, Rice, Roots and the Road to Cultural Exploration runs at Common Area Maintenance, May 8-29. 

Hometown

Cameron, Missouri.

Discipline

2D and 3D grain art.

Favorite Spot in Seattle

Cafe Flora on a Saturday morning.

Describe Your Work in Three Words

Warm. Peaceful. Reflective.

Together We Rice by Yaminee Patel. To create this piece, the artist used rice, mung beans, lentils, farro, red beans, buckwheat, cumin, mustard seeds, quinoa, and split peas.

Courtesy of Yaminee Patel

Tell us about your journey into art.

I never imagined I would be an artist. Most of my life I was guided toward “practical” paths, like pursuing an engineering degree, but art always found its way to the forefront—whether it was doodling in the margins or making elaborate school posters. It wasn’t until I graduated and started my first corporate job that I finally gave myself permission to indulge in art as a serious pursuit.

When I moved to Seattle in 2021, I started visiting local galleries during art walks and found myself wondering, “Could I do this, too?” The thought of sharing my work was daunting, but it quickly became exhilarating. Within six months of showing at local galleries, and thanks to the kind folks in the Seattle art community who steered me in the right direction, I decided to lean in and truly take myself seriously.

Where do you find inspiration?

I’m drawn to the “grit” of people who do thankless things to keep the world moving—folks who take a leap of faith to pursue something greater than themselves. On a macro scale, I’m inspired by how communities support one another; on a micro scale, I admire small business owners who risk it all for their dreams. In an increasingly disconnected society, I crave genuine connection, so I often walk my neighborhood to chat with local makers and business owners. It gives me a fresh perspective and a higher sense of gratitude for what’s around me.

Rice Farmer by Yaminee Patel.

Courtesy of Yaminee Patel

Cooking Rice by Yaminee Patel is one in a series of five large-format rice collages.

Courtesy of Yaminee Patel

You have an upcoming show at Common Area Maintenance. What can people expect?

This exhibit is an immersive exploration of the journey food takes—from the hands of farmers in India to the dinner table and beyond—through a series of works made from rice and other grains. This collection was inspired by my personal pursuit of cultural connection, specifically the stories of my father’s childhood on his family farm and my own visits back to India.

I’ve designed this show to engage all the senses: I’m featuring homemade rice dishes, steamed-rice scented candles, audio descriptions, and jars of my raw materials for people to touch. I have been working with rice as a medium for two and a half years, and this is the first time these pieces will be in conversation with one another in one space to tell the full story of rice from farm to table and beyond.

What draws you to your medium of choice?

Before I stumbled into grain art, I was itching for more dimension in my work. I found myself disliking the rubbery finish of acrylics and looked to my pantry for texture. Every time I visit my parents, my mom sends me home with bags of lentils and rice for quick meals. Since I’m not much of a cook, I accumulated quite a collection! Once I used them in a piece, I was mesmerized by the calm, cohesive nature of the material. The natural palette and texture brought an immediate sense of harmony to my work, and I’ve never looked back.

Share one piece of advice you someone had given you when you were first starting out.

Stop thinking about what other people want to see and follow what calls to you. Try anything and everything and don’t limit yourself by what you think art should look like. Have FUN! Laugh and cry and make whatever makes you feel whole.

Define success on your terms.

I see success as creating freely, with abundance, and in community. My goal is to learn as much as I can so that I can share that knowledge with others. I want to be a rising tide that helps others unlock their own ambitions.

Bullock Cart, by Yaminee Patel. According to Patel’s Instagram, a single ox can pull over 1,000 pounds for 12-14 miles per day. She calls the animals the “unsung heroes” of the harvesting process.

Courtesy of Yaminee Patel

Who do you admire, and why?

Seattle is full of inspiration! I’m moved by artists like Sung Park, whose “Artists at Work” series is so vulnerable, and Judy Lee, who thoughtfully dissects her experiences to open a dialogue for others. I admire Shri Repp’s curiosity regarding cross-cultural cooking, and Brenda Palomino’s mad scientist approach to bio-polymer fabrics. I’m also a big fan of Laura from the Intentionalist; she is a true champion for small businesses. Every person I meet here brings a bright, fresh perspective.

What do you still hope to accomplish?

I want to continue pushing the limits of rice as a medium, but I also want to kick off projects about other parts of my history—including my experience growing up in motels, which is a common but often unspoken South Asian immigrant experience. Beyond that, I just want to find more ways to give back. I’m lucky to have both a full-time career and the capacity to pursue art, and I hope to use those skills to help others.

If you weren’t making art, what would you be doing?

I would probably be deeply sad, working 15 hours a day and desperately seeking an outlet.