Sharma to Present Final 'Artists on the Road' Lecture of Semester

Bhakti Sharma, chair and associate professor of interior design, will present the talk “I Collect Boarding Passes: Ten Trips, Ten Lessons” on Thursday, April 14, at 12:15 p.m. in Upton Hall 230.  This lecture is the last in this academic year’s "Artists on the Road: Travel As Source of Inspiration" series and is free and open to the public.

Sharma grew up in Northern India. The first time that she boarded an airplane was when she traveled to Arizona to attend Arizona State in 2004. Prior to that, she had traveled extensively in India. Since then, she has added Sri Lanka, Spain, Portugal, China, Japan, and other parts of North America to her travel list.

Her favorite so far has been Portugal, she said, adding, “Lisbon is where my heart is.”

She will discuss these travels and how they have affected her life, and yes, boarding passes will be included in her slideshow.

“Travel has given me new eyes to appreciate the world, to learn more, and to grow each day," said Sharma. "Art and travel go hand in hand. I see art through the lens of travel. I love white walls, but there is a wall in my house that has special artifacts, mostly masks, dedicated to a moment in time in my travels. I see things differently than most people and so can you if you travel and open your eyes.”

After receiving her bachelor of architecture from Punjab Technical University, Sharma earned a master of science in design from Arizona State University. Her research is centered around corporate branding, experiential factors, high-end retail, and flagship stores. She serves as president of the Buffalo Architecture Foundation and as vice president and emerging professionals chair of the Buffalo section of the Illuminating Engineering Society.

Her most recent research resulted in a chapter within the book Reframing Quality Assurance in Creative Disciplines: From Evidence to Practice published in 2015 by Common Ground.

The "Artists on the Road" series is co-sponsored by the Design Department and the International and Exchange Programs Office.

For more information, contact Carol Townsend, associate professor of design, at (716) 878-4986.