Jag Nagra is a queer, South Asian visual artist and mother.
She is vice-chair of the Punjabi Market Collective and has been a member of Sher Vancouver since 2008.
Nagra is also in Emergence: Out of the Shadows, a feature documentary from Delta-based Sher Films produced by Alex Sangha and directed by Vinay Giridhar.
This transcription has been edited for clarity and conciseness.
Can you tell me about yourself?
I’m a visual artist. I like doing large-scale art installations, and I focus a lot of my practice on themes I didn’t grow up seeing. I try to put a modern spin on Indian textiles, Indian patterns and that classic imagery. But if you saw my portfolio over five years ago, there was nothing in it that would make you think a South Asian woman drew this. Now, I’m very inspired because I feel a sense of pride and connection. For the first time in my life, I feel proud of my roots, and it’s been a fun journey to reconnect with myself.
I’m also a mother. My wife and I have two children. I think my form of queer activism often comes in just being visible, showing people that we’re like everybody else. I think that helps bridge some of the fear or ignorance people often have towards queer people.
Why did you originally get involved in your work as an artist?
When COVID hit, I found myself coming to my desk with a pen and a stack of paper, and I just started getting my thoughts out, drawing things. I tend to draw based on what’s happening around me. It’s therapeutic for me to have that release and to see people connecting with the artwork – it’s really powerful. With my art now, I tend to draw themes that empower women, or have empowered women in them, and I blend the different intersections of my identity – being queer, being a woman, being brown. Those three things are often not celebrated, especially together, so I want people to see my art and feel a sense of strength.
What do you wish more people knew about the queer community?
There’s a lot of ‘othering’ that happens to us, and you never quite feel a sense of belonging in the mainstream. When you’re in the closet, it’s because you’re shoved into it. Nobody wants to be there, but you’re stuck in there. So, the more of us that you see in public, the more confidence people have to also be themselves.
To stay up to date with what Jag Nagra is up to, check out her website at https://www.jagnagra.com/.
