Today our guest is not an American, but someone who lives very close to America. As a matter of fact, so close that a lot of people out there consider this place to be part of America. Yet, it is not.

Manpreet Kaur is a contemporary realist artist. She is also a graffiti artist and you can see her works around the city of Toronto, Canada. We, in New York, are very aware of our graffiti artists and we have our own favorite graffiti and mural spots and artists. We've been lucky to be a city where you can see the works of Banksy, Kobra and other prominent worldwide known graffiti artists.

I've met Manpreet very randomly. I was in Toronto on a short trip and I was walking around the city sightseeing. I was especially interested in seeing the part of the city called Kensington Market - it's a vibrant, boho, soho, artistic neighborhood full of bars, vintage stores, cafes, restaurants, interesting mom and pop stores and GRAFFITI. It draws hipsters and students and it's populates with Victorian houses along tree-lined streets. I was walking the alleys looking at the graffitis when I spotted Manpreet at work.

I never saw a graffiti artist at work. I also pretty timid to approach one while the artist is at work. But I took pictures and videos and as I was about to turn away, I thought - when would I ever get another chance to see a graffiti artist at work, not to mention - to talk to one. So, I approached Manpreet and here we are talking about art and graffiti, Toronto, South-Asian families and traditions, and how she, originally from Punjab, India, not only ended up in Toronto, but also broke all the South-Asian stereotypes by doing so.
Manpreet Kaur received her formal training in drawing and painting in India. She taught at various well established educational institutes as an art instructor and art teacher. In 2019, Manpreet Kaur moved to Canada where she started her new journey as an artist and founder of Mankaurarts.

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