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Sheela Becton

Painting, Visual / Media

Art to me is a language that transcends boundaries and brings people together. As a mixed media artist, my work is rooted in the belief that humanity and nature are intrinsically connected—threads woven into the fabric of a greater, unified whole.
My journey through cancer has profoundly shaped my art, infusing it with a narrative of survival, renewal, and transformation. Birds, Trees, and natural forms often appear as symbols of freedom and healing.
My art honors feminine strength not only as an abstract ideal but as a deeply personal truth shaped by my own journey. Each piece is both a celebration and a reclamation of that power.
My Indian heritage infuses my work with spiritual symbolism, rich color palettes, and ancestral narratives. I seek to bridge the ancient and the contemporary, the personal and the universal—allowing my identity to flow freely between tradition and transformation.
In each creation, I aim to offer a space for reflection, healing, and remembrance. My work invites viewers to reconnect—with themselves, with the Earth, and with the timeless rhythms that bind us all.

About the Artist

Sheela Becton was born and raised in India and moved to the US in 1997. She lives in Silver Spring, Maryland, where she embraces her love for painting. The brushwork in her art often tells the story of her memories from life and travels in India, showcasing the richness and beauty of Indian culture. Painting is therapeutic to her, giving her focus and peace. Her creativity is also inspired by the incomparable beauty of nature. Sheela believes in painting with a purpose; to spread positivity, encourage healing through art, and uplift others. In her efforts towards that end, she has been collaborating with Hope Works of Howard County. The organization’s mission is to support and advocate for people affected by sexual and intimate partner violence and engage the community in creating the change needed to end violence. Sheela’s work has been featured in the Hope Works’ arts magazine, Dragonfly, four times since 2015. In 2021, Hope Works requested the use of her painting “Love” to be featured as the cover of Hope Collected, an anthology celebrating the best of Dragonfly entries since its inception in 2014. Sheela’s Art work has been shown in exhibitions in Maryland including “Dragonfly, poetry reading and art exhibit” in 2019, ‘Colors of India - People, Places, Festivals and Landscapes’ at Bernice Kish Art Gallery at Slayton House in 2022 and ‘Colors of Nature’ at Brookside Gardens in 2023. Sheela presented a Salon Style gallery talk on the ‘Color culture of India’ at Bernice Kish Art Gallery. Her work ‘Soulmates’ was juried into the Love themed Exhibit at ‘Girls who paint’. Currently she has an Ongoing Exhibit ‘Blossoms of Hope’ at Columbia Art Center.    

Sheela Becton website Sheela Creates

Featured Work

Photos

Inspired by nature and the simple daily lives of women selling flowers in the bazaar. Scented serenity is an invitation to pause, inhale deeply, and let the calming fragrances transport the soul to a realm where worries dissipate, and a profound sense of peace blossoms like petals in the gentle breeze.
I find inspiration in the delicate dance between natures serene beauty and the rich tapestry of my cultural heritage. In the heart of a pristine forest, where sunlight filtered through the lush canopy, nature's abundance revealed itself in a harmonious dance of life.
The Divine feminine is favored and familiar subject I paint, she has an inquisitive parrot perched on her shoulder. The serene expression on the woman’s face and the ease with which both creatures negotiate the shared space suggest a sense of harmony and balance.
This painting reflects Art as healing. After facing cancer, I returned to my creative path not just to make art—but to reclaim joy, softness, and meaning. This piece is both a whisper and a roar: a reminder that beauty can bloom even from broken ground. She finds calm and serenity in Natures embrace and whispers of love in the sounds of the birds singing. The birds also symbolize freedom the freedom of the spirit and the leaves symbolize resilience.
Rooted in grace and blooming in power. They leaves symbolize renewal and resilience, and phases of growth. I see leaves and changing colors in leaves as the different stages of life, these lush green leaves absorb sunlight and give back oxygen—just like we learn, contribute, and find our rhythm during the active phases of life.