March came in like a lion for local artists, and at least one community was ready to welcome the roar. Gallery spaces in Dupont were open for self-guided tours during the neighborhood’s First Friday: Art Walk.
Among those who participated — for the first time on the gallery showing side of the monthly event — was Historic Dupont Circle Main Streets/ Dupont Circle Business Improvement District (BID)/artist Ravi Raman.
Raman held a two night pop-up, previewing his exhibit in advance of the official Art Walk event, at an intimate space at 1627 Connecticut Ave. NW (formerly Tangerine Boutique) in Dupont Circle.
While he has shown his artwork at venues throughout the District in recent years, this was Raman’s first Art Walk exhibit, and he loved having Dupont Circle neighbors, passersby, tourists, and the entire DC community come to view his art, purchase original works, and even take selfies in front of his pieces.
“I’ve been painting for about three years now, and I finally had enough paintings at home that I started getting in touch with galleries,” he told The Current.
“I’d call my style, modern/pop-art, and while there are some running themes, music definitely comes in strong because I played music in bands for many years.”
Raman’s First Friday: Art Walk gallery contained about a dozen pieces — some figurative, some abstract — but all with bold colors and a powerful message.
In addition to his pop-up Art Walk exhibit in Dupont, his work may be seen currently at Sorriso Bistro in Woodley Park, the Carlyle Hotel in Dupont Circle, and at SR/A Interior Design in Chevy Chase. He also has a 12-foot street mural based on his Love In Six Lines series at 1737 Columbia Road NW in Adams Morgan.
The next First Friday: Art Walk will be held in Dupont on April 5th from 6 – 8 p.m.
