You have to build that community, you have to invest in these relationships, and how much it hurts just shows how good and beautiful it was.
Natasha Chandrasekharan
Joy of Being Featured Storyteller
Natasha Chandrasekharan is a South Asian queer and nonbinary immigrant, fiber artist, educator, and community researcher whose creative practice explores identity, belonging, and self-expression. Having lived in the United States for nearly fifteen years, Natasha has developed meaningful connections within Minnesota's queer and artist communities, finding opportunities for personal discovery, solidarity, and creative growth.
Through fiber arts, writing, and community engagement, Natasha explores the relationship between creativity, personal autonomy, and collective care. As a participant in In Progress's Joy of Being project, Natasha shares a deeply personal story about navigating cultural expectations, immigration uncertainty, and the importance of chosen family. Natasha's reflections offer insight into the courage it takes to live authentically and the joy found in artmaking, meaningful relationships, and defining one's own sense of belonging.
Becoming on My Own Terms
Finding joy beyond other’s expectations
IP artist Bhavana Goparaju speaks with Natasha Chandrasekharan about the complexities of identity, belonging, and building community across cultures. After nearly fifteen years in the United States, Natasha reflects on finding freedom through queer friendships, creative expression, and self-discovery, while confronting the uncertainty of being forced to leave the country following a sudden job loss. Through a deeply personal conversation, Natasha explores the meaning of chosen family, the importance of separating self-worth from productivity, and the joy of creating a life grounded in authenticity, solidarity, and love.
Portraits
The fact that I've not been in queer-presenting relationships doesn't mean that I'm any less queer. The fact that maybe I don't present quite as, you know, whatever people's idea of a nonbinary person is ... does not make that identity lesser.
My place here was never secure. There was always that fear of, like, I'll have to go back. I felt like I couldn't do too much. My tattoo represents to me my expression about my identity ... It was an attempt at asserting self-autonomy and self-expression.
This activity is made possible in part by the voters of Minnesota thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund, MN State Arts Board GEneral Operating Program, and the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council. Additional thanks to the McKnight Foundation who has continually supported arts learning and professional development opportunities for artists in Saint Paul and Crookston Minnesota.