Meet Jaudat Rahmani

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jaudat Rahmani and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jaudat, how do you think about risk?
Risk-taking is in my DNA; I have never been afraid to take the road less traveled.

I was that kid who was always drawn to the unknown. Being an athlete in school taught me how to push myself beyond limits, Through sports I developed resilience that extended far beyond. I was 18 yrs old when I decided to leave my homeland, Pakistan & everything I knew including my family behind in the hopes of building a life at my own hands. I had $500 in my pocket, a suitcase & absolutely no plan. I was breaking cultural barriers & challenging traditional norms. I found work as a “threading artist” in a beauty salon while working towards a permanent solution to settle in the US.

The universe had other plans. I had to leave the US & Toronto became my new home. My 20s were a transformative decade. This is where I learnt the most valuable lessons that set the stage for the rest of my life. I took risks with my professional life & I took risks with love. I risked buying my first home at the age of 23, which is when I fell in love with real estate & pursued a career as a real estate broker.

It was not until heartbreak, that I decided to use my alone time to travel the world. I embarked on a spiritual journey. This is when I dedicated a room in my home to ‘creative hobbies.’ I started experimenting with acrylic flow arts as it helped me combine art, movement & mindfulness.

Something was still missing. In 2019 I risked leaving everything behind once again to pursue a life back in Chicago. Shortly after moving here, the pandemic happened. While I was unemployed & soul searching, I decided to utilize this free time to create art, sell prints of it to people I knew & donate the sale proceeds to a higher good. I told myself if I raised a $1000, I will jump right into an art career & give it my all.

Embracing uncertainty has always come naturally to me. In 2021 I started teaching myself how to paint & mastering the business of art. I am now an international visual artist, illustrator & muralist based in Chicago. My journey doesn’t stop here. There is a lot more risk to be taken.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Where do I even start? I consider myself a storyteller but on paper I am a visual artist, illustrator & muralist. I started this passionate journey to create a platform where I can use my feminine voice & give back to those around me. I have not had formal education in the field of Art but I always had creative bones.

I started creating paintings using acrylic medium. I advanced into painting interior murals because I enjoy painting on large surfaces. I also introduced print making in my home studio. Moving on, I taught my self how to illustrate digitally on Procreate & Adobe which then led me into textile designing. I also enjoy leading paint workshops where I share my skills & knowledge with others. My 2024 goal is to tap into partnering with brands and collaborate on product design & packaging.

I have always been a walking wanderer who loves to travel, adapt to new places & cultures which makes these factors my biggest inspiration for painting. You will see all these subjects in my work. Although I don’t want to limit myself by putting my artistic style in a category, I can say my art is a blend of contemporary, pop, abstract, digital art. I use my art to promote optimistic messages related to one’s sense of self worth.

The road to success is never easy. In fact I have had way more failures than success. I think it is essential to be absolutely fearless as an entrepreneur. If you understand the simple fact that no one is coming to save you, you find a way no matter what. I started selling my paintings & prints in farmers markets next to cheese and fruit stands (believe it or not). I worked odd side jobs & whoever I came across, I made sure I talked about my art. Every interaction led me somewhere. I did a lot of ‘free’ work in the beginning. But when I got home, I worked on my skills. I prayed. I read a lot of books & listened to a lot of self-development podcasts.

The right opportunity may not be around but momentum can be created. This whole journey has been an emotional rollercoaster. We live in a world where 10 second highlight reels determines our value. It’s important to be intentional.
The reason I started this journey was to give back with something I was blessed with. Considering this career incepted from a charity cause, I am humbled to share that every sale has contributed to a greater good. My life goal is to use my art as a catalyst for social impact, benefiting orphanages & women, specially single mothers in vulnerable countries.

Reflecting on my experience, I would say become delusional with your dreams. Follow your heart but work your butt off! Everyone’s journey is unique & everyone has been blessed with a special set of abilities. Find yours and do that.

My art has been a bridge, linking me to individuals from all walks of life, particularly women from diverse backgrounds. I have been honored to work along side influential & respected individuals & brands. My work was recently selected to exhibit at the Biennale ‘24 in Venice, Italy. My story is one of resilience & self-belief. I would love to write/illustrate a book on it in the near future. This journey has not been an easy one but it has definitely been a fun one. I can’t wait to see what the future holds!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If you’re visiting Chicago you will run out of time with the amount of things there are to do. It’s happening in the summer & just as magical during winter. My favorite part is the food.

I would definitely recommend the architectural boat tour. It gives you a look at the beautiful architecture from the Chicago River. You can take stroll along Lake Michigan. And if you wanted a picnic, there’s also a beach right in the middle of the city overlooking the magnificent skyline.

Some of my favorite neighborhoods are West loop, Hyde park, Wicker park, Pilsen & South loop.

Chicago is so rich in art & culture. You will see murals & sculptures everywhere including ‘The Bean.’ There are a ton of museums & galleries to visit.

My favorite restaurants would have to be Monteverde (West Loop), Tango Sur, Pequod’s Pizza, L’Patron Tacos (Logan Square).

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Given the fact that I had to navigate through most of my life alone, I feel like God has been my number one constant. Faith kept me grounded & focused. It always persuaded me to see the wins in the losses.

As far as human beings are concerned, my mother & my brother have been my backbone. We have shared a bond despite the distance. I don’t have a lot of friends but I have been very fortunate to have a handful that I can trust my life with.

Most important one, my husband. My biggest hype man. He has shown me what true love means & how important healthy soil is for you to flourish. His love & support have been a catalyst for my growth as an individual & an artist.

Being an entrepreneur means you have to become comfortable with rejection & failures. There are people who don’t believe in me but there have been some who have wholeheartedly wanted to see me win. Some of these people I met along my creative journey have become good friends. They know who they are!

Website: www.jaudatrart.com

Instagram: Jaudatr.art

Other: https://www.artsy.net/partner/womens-live-artist-studio/artists/jaudat-r-art