Nicky Desai

What began as idle doodles on my iPad during high school lectures soon evolved into bold, abstract portraits on canvas—lines breaking convention, faces telling stories beyond a single perspective.

I’m Nicky Desai, a 22-year-old artist from Hopkinton, MA, and a Bates College graduate in Mathematics and Economics. But my love for art predates my academic journey, intertwined with another lifelong passion: music.

A decade ago, my dad gifted me an iPod, preloaded with his music. That tiny device unlocked a world of sound—alternative rock, jazz, soul, hip-hop—each genre shaping how I experienced emotion. Over time, I realized art and music were the same to me: both evoked the intangible, something beyond words.

Inspired by Picasso’s fragmented perspectives, I sought to bridge the gap between sound and sight. That’s how Art Beats was born—my creative venture that transforms music into visual form. Each piece captures a song’s essence through color, movement, and intricate linework, blending my math background’s symmetry with the cultural depth of my Indian heritage. Through Art Beats, I bring music to life—where sound isn’t just heard but seen.

Bates College