We recently connected with Dipa Halder and have shared our conversation below.
Dipa, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
For a long time, I treated “purpose” like it was this singular, definitive thing. I imagined it as some kind of precise target, and if I didn’t identify it perfectly, it would mean I’d gotten my entire life wrong. Carrying that belief was quietly suffocating—it made every decision feel high-stakes, and left no room for curiosity, experimentation, or change.
My relationship to purpose looks very different now. These days, purpose feels less like a fixed endpoint and more like an ongoing conversation with myself. And right now, that dialogue has led me to being a full-time artist. I paint, I design interiors, I host creative pop-ups. It feels like the most honest expression of who I am at this moment.
Arriving at this point required a lot of self-excavation. I’ve learned that the search for purpose isn’t about hunting for a perfect answer—it’s about uncovering the parts of yourself you’ve buried or ignored, and then having the courage to let those parts lead your life. For me, that meant stepping away from my career in software engineering—not because that path was wrong for me, but because I wanted a life where my creative gifts were at the center of my life, rather than something squeezed into the margins.
I don’t believe purpose is something you discover once and then guard forever. It’s something you grow into, again and again. For me, it’s been a practice of listening to what feels aligned, allowing myself to evolve, and continually choosing the path that makes me feel most honest, most energized, and most alive.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I’m a Brooklyn-based artist – I’m primarily an abstract painter, but my practice also extends into into interior design, styling, florals, and creative direction.
A lot of people describe my art as soft and dream-like. I’m drawn to sky and water tones, to movement, to creating pieces that feel like they’re breathing. I love shaping emotion and atmosphere through my art and creating worlds that feel transportive, where color, texture, and design come together in a way that shifts how people experience a room (or themselves).
This past year, I moved to New York to pursue my art career full-time. Since then, I’ve released multiple sold-out painting collections, hosted my first solo exhibition, and collaborated on pop-up experiences that blend art, styling, and florals. Those projects are where my work comes together: art as atmosphere, art as environment.
I have a lot of exciting projects and events lined up for the year ahead—new collections, pop-ups, and collaboration. I’m always creating something in the city, and I love bringing people into those moments so if you’re in New York or just want to follow along, I’d love to have you be part of it.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Trusting my intuition, learning how to follow through, and allowing myself to evolve.
On trusting my intuition: for a long time, I looked outside myself for permission, credentials, or a “right” moment to begin. Learning to trust my own taste and internal compass changed everything. My advice is to pay attention to what you’re consistently drawn to and protect that curiosity. Your intuition gets clearer the more you act on it, not the more you overthink it.
Second, discipline and follow-through. Inspiration is important, but consistency is what turns creativity into a practice. Showing up regularly—whether to paint, design, or share your work—builds momentum and confidence over time. For anyone early in their journey, focus less on perfection and more on repetition. Small, sustained effort compounds in ways you can’t always see right away.
Third, permission to evolve. I’ve learned that it’s okay to change your mind, expand your interests, and outgrow previous versions of yourself. Some of my most meaningful work has come from letting my practice stretch beyond a single label. My advice is not to box yourself in too early. Let your work reflect who you are now, and trust that clarity comes from continuing to move forward authentically.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
Always. I’m actively looking to collaborate with interior designers, creative directors, stylists, and brands who are interested in using art, florals, and design to bring spaces to life. I love working on projects where artwork helps anchor a room, florals add movement and emotion, or a space becomes an immersive, sensory experience.
If you’re designing a home, studio, retail space, or pop-up and are looking for original artwork, custom florals, or creative direction, I’d love to collaborate. The best way to connect is by reaching out via Instagram or through my website—both are open for inquiries and collaboration ideas.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dipahalder.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/dipahalderstudio
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dipahalder/
- Twitter: https://x.com/dipalua_
Image Credits
Mari Huang
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