Sharoll Sinani is an Aymara Jewish artist-poet and Harvard-trained leadership strategist who combines ancestral memory, civic dialogue, and cutting-edge learning science to ignite presence, equity, and collective flourishing.
“From stories in my grandmother’s house to the halls of Harvard, my journey comes from ancestral memory, cross-cultural exploration, and absolute trust in art’s power to unlock and unite. Every step—anchored in Aymara heritage, Jewish spiritual awakening, and communal creativity—affirms the transformative potential of presence, love, and the courage to reimagine what binds us all.”
Spiritual Identity & Approach to Love
“For me, love is far more than a feeling—it is the alchemical lens through which sorrow becomes empathy, identity reveals its hidden roots, and communities discover their collective strength. In my life, love emboldens us to step beyond resistance and into a shared communion, where art ceases to be a solitary act and emerges as a vibrant path toward remembrance, renewal, and reverence for life’s most profound connections.”
The Key Shifts in My Art & Philosophy Presence Over Resistance
Growing up, I moved from the austere weekend rituals of my grandparents’ Adventist church to the celebratory rhythms of a Hindu temple—and on through countless spiritual circles. Each community had its own ceremonies and convictions, but as a perpetual seeker, I often found myself suspended in a quest for “the right” tribe. I later realized that anchoring my identity around resisting oppressive norms—even spiritual ones—was limiting. I discovered more freedom in presence: engaging fully with the moment, the people, and the space, rather than defining myself against something external.
In my article “Nomad,” I describe how these encounters—be it chanting mantras at sunrise or cooking with my grandmother—revealed that everything can be sacralized when approached with openness. Resistance, by contrast, continually orbits around the force we oppose, keeping us tethered to its gravity. Presence enables me to dwell in each tradition as a living participant, savoring the sense of belonging without forfeiting my autonomy. This shift in perspective profoundly informs my art: instead of depicting conflict or protest, I aim to depict the generative potential of simply being—embodied, creative, and communal.
Bridging Traditions for Universal Restoration
My spiritual curiosity unfolds as a textile interwoven with many threads. From the chanting of “Hare Krishna” to my Jewish conversion and my embrace of Aymara cosmology, I experienced a common denominator: each path, at its best, honors communion, the power of sharing and belonging. In “Nomad,” I refer to religion as a series of ‘tribes’—fluid spaces where we can either become lost or find ourselves anew. Over time, I learned that forging genuine connection isn’t about pledging absolute loyalty to one tradition; it’s about identifying the universal energies—compassion, gratitude, humility—that give rise to transformation.
These journeys have also led me home to my Aymara roots. I see echoes of that communal warmth in the memory of my grandmother, who turned an ordinary kitchen into a sacred gathering place for storytelling and shared labor. In Jewish practice, I am reminded of the power of memory and renewal—the daily return to a “loving center,” which resonates with Aymara notions of cyclical time and reciprocity. Although each tradition speaks its own spiritual language, I’ve come to see them as cultural bridges that invite us to fully recognize each other’s humanity.
Affirming Our Shared Humanity
Cultural bridges arise when we consciously affirm the other’s worth in every gesture—our body language, tone of voice, and choice of words reveal our deepest beliefs. If I truly see you as fully human, as precious as I am, I approach your world with dignity and care. I do not presume you owe me deference, nor do I normalize hierarchies that reduce human value to power differentials. This is the heart of my artistic vision: to transmute differences into invitations for understanding and wonder.
Why It Matters in My Artistic Practice
To invite shared belonging
Whether collaborating with communities through Zera Bolivia or exploring new spiritual landscapes in my paintings, I strive to create safe, nourishing “tribes” bound by curiosity rather than rigid dogma.
To honor the Sacred in everyday acts
Much like a meal lovingly prepared, I believe art can transform the mundane into a conduit of connection and reflection.
To foster ongoing discovery
A seeker’s path never ends; new questions arise in every piece of artwork or poetry. By embracing multiple vantage points, I continually expand the horizons of what “belonging” can mean.
Bridging these traditions does not blur them into one monolith. Instead, it reveals that each vantage—when approached with empathy—guides us toward the same fundamental truth: to be human is to quest for meaning, to stand in awe, and to craft beauty where we can. Through this process of intentional presence, we find that cultural differences become sources of creative fusion and deep listening, illuminating paths of healing for both the individual heart and the collective spirit.
