Lot 16: Rukmini Kelkar - Toco from Brazil

This piece was inspired by our trip to Brazil last summer. The Toucan is so cute and colourful, and I would have loved to see it, but it never happened. But I found a pair of Toucan earrings in a vintage shop on my last evening....and that was super exciting! These beautiful birds are known to be super noisy, scientist have no idea why they have such a big beak, and they are monomorphic (no way to distinguish female or male toucans outwardly). Isn't this really cool! I painted this colourful Toucan as it was what I felt when I was in Rio, the most magical city in the world for me and also what better way to celebrate diversity and colour than with this beautiful illusive, monomorphic bird! The colours, vibe and flora and fauna of Brazil filled my heart and I cant wait to go back. I feel food like colour is so similar in that it can break barriers and fill your belly and heart at the same time.

30 x 30cm

Acrylic on Canvas

Artist Bio Welcome to my colorful world! I'm Rukmini Kelkar, an artist and designer based in Dublin. My journey began in Mumbai, but in 2017, life took an unexpected turn when I moved to Dublin to join my husband. I was a dentist back in Mumbai, but when I realized I couldn't continue in that field here, I discovered something new—art. I started teaching myself to paint through YouTube in 2018, and it quickly became my therapy. Art helped me find my way, and soon after, I dove into graphic design, completing my HND in 2020. My art is bright, joyful, and a celebration of life’s imperfections. It’s inspired by my experiences of moving from India to Ireland, and I love infusing my work with stories of migration, empowerment, and resilience. With my design background I use my brand also to work with small immigrant-owned and local female-led businesses, helping them bring their visions to life as that is a passion of mine. Right now, I'm studying for my MA in Art and Social Action at NCAD, exploring how creativity can inspire positive change in the world. Step into my world, where every color tells a story and every piece is a part of my journey.