R Sawan White

R. Sawan White is a contemporary, abstract artist, residing in Lincoln, Rhode Island. White studied art at Virginia Commonwealth University for two years, then transferred to the Loughborough University School of Art and Design in Loughborough, England. White received a First Degree in Fine Art Printmaking with highest honors from Loughborough University.

After graduating from University, White continued in the area of printmaking. In 2001, White began collecting secrets from friends, family, acquaintances, and strangers. This led to an installation piece in the local Artspace Gallery entitled Close. in 2002. This installation explored the dual meaning of the word "close"—both how we reveal parts of ourselves to become close to others, and how we hold back, closing ourselves off from others. Hundreds of secrets were typed up, placed in tiny plastic baggies, and encased in plaster. White then created small prints inspired by the secrets, and repeated the process, placing the prints in tiny baggies and then encasing them in plaster. The result was hundreds of plaster squares - some with original prints and some with secrets peeking out from behind the plaster. During the installation, the viewers were surrounded by hundreds of strangers' secrets—some out in the open, some partially revealed, and some hardly visible at all. This installation preceded the PostSecret art project by several years.

Currently, White's paintings are formed by layering oil paints and a wax–resin blend onto wood panels. Though similar to encaustic painting, White does not add pigments to the wax and resin blend. Instead, the unpigmented wax/resin blend is added in between layers of oil paint. During this process, White etches into the layers of paint and wax. This process allows White to create a depth and texture that adds to the feel and experience of the work.

White is represented by the Blue Gallery in Kansas City, Missouri, the Moberg Gallery in Des Moines, Iowa, and the Eric Schindler Gallery in Richmond, VA.