She was only two years old when her parents relocated to the US in 1990. She always felt like an “outsider” who never truly belonged to either of the cultures.
She found few students from South Asia in elementary, middle, and high school, and as child of the 9/11 generation, was exposed to discrimination very early on.
A lot of what Ambati experienced growing up — identity crisis, cultural differences, and social issues plaguing both countries — is reflected in her artworks.
One artwork is of a brown woman with pierced nose. The resilience she exudes is bolstered by the accompanying caption: “Staying silent in times of injustice is a privilege.”
Alongside this, her experience as an equitable development analyst involved in urban planning helps her create artwork that can shed light on past inequities.