Meet Vasundhara Tolia | Visual artist, physician

We had the good fortune of connecting with Vasundhara Tolia and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Vasundhara, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
If I reflect on my journey, transitioning from an academic physician and researcher to an artist in retirement, it is not my inclination to vocalize personal accomplishments. Because I have been raised with modest, reserved cultural values, extolling my own story publicly does not come naturally. I hesitate to appear self-promoting , yet I understand that to resonate with others, I must give an honest acknowledgement and insight for my personal motivations to answer your question. Success is often multifaceted and due to a combination of the following elements, each playing a crucial role in shaping my brand and impact on the world.

Innovation and Vision: Success stems from a visionary approach that embraces innovation. During my medical career, I seeked and embraced pioneering advancements in the field of pediatric gastroenterology to envision new possibilities and techniques, pushing the boundaries of ‘then’ conventional healthcare practices. As an artist, my vision continues to drive my artistic pursuits and infuse my work with creativity.
Commitment to excellence: I put in my best in everything I do. I strived for excellence in patient care, medical research and now in artistic expression. This unwavering pursuit of high standards has been pivotal to my success ( I personally believe that I have miles to walk and mountains to climb to be a successful artist).
Resilience and adaptability are essential to navigate challenges in life. Complexities of both the medical and artistic realms require resilience and ability to adapt in order to face the changing circumstances. My ability to learn and evolve may have played a critical role in my career.
Passion and dedication to bring to my work to fruition are my fundamental driving forces. Enthusiasm for medical innovation and later, a commitment to using art as a medium for social impact, likely fueled my determination and eventually became a passion.
Success can also be defined by the meaningful contributions- like becoming the first pediatric endoscopist to perform a flexible pediatric endoscopy in the state of MI, establishing the first pediatric endoscopy center at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan by learning these techniques from adult gastroenterologists. I have maintained similar approach in leveraging art for advocacy with a purpose-driven focus on creating positive change to leave a lasting impact.
Embracing a mindset for continuous learning and growth has been pivotal. In medicine, staying abreast of advancements was crucial, as it is in art also, to continue fostering ongoing artistic development and evolution.
Upholding strong ethical standards and values has been an integral part of my life. Whether in healthcare or the arts, a commitment to integrity and ethics forms the bedrock of trust and credibility, influencing my brand positively.
I don’t want to prioritize any singular recognition or achievement, but rather consistently align the efforts as physician, teacher and visual storyteller towards empowering and uplifting human dignity through compassion. My practice originated with vulnerable children and families, through patient-first approach anchored in their lived realities. This core humanitarianism has carried over into my visual arts centered on abstracting our inner light.
Finally, I hope that my passion for some of the causes including empowering women, helping medical research for mental and physical illnesses, helping children with disabilities by collaborations with charitable organizations for fundraising will become a part of my brand. So my brand is to be a creative steward accountable to societal conscience. Someone who walked difficult roads alongside them who now channels that strength into imaginative works which validate their own trials and redemption. By donating proceeds back to social causes and local communities, I organically build reciprocal goodwill within an ecosystem by supporting them to flourish.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am delighted to share my perspective about my art. It is an extension of my journey—a visual narrative that seeks to bridge cultures, evoke emotions, and provoke contemplation. What sets my art apart is its subtle yet profound language, inviting viewers to explore the complexities of the human experience without the need for explicit explanations. I take pride in infusing my work with layers of symbolism, textures, and colors that transcend cultural boundaries, fostering connections and introspection. Professionally, my transition from academia to artistry wasn’t without its challenges. The journey demanded resilience, adaptability, and a willingness to embrace change. Overcoming these challenges required persistence, a willingness to learn, and an openness to evolving creatively. I’ve learned invaluable lessons along the way— about resilience, the importance of embracing uncertainty and the power of creativity as a means of expression and advocacy.
What I want the world to know about my brand and my story is that it embodies a fusion of cultural experiences, professional growth, and a commitment to social impact. I hope that my artworks provoke conversations, inspire empathy, and raise awareness for causes that resonate deeply with me—particularly mental health awareness and empowering vulnerable communities. Through my art, I aspire to leave a legacy of compassion, connection, and positive change.
In essence, my artistic journey is a testament to perseverance, growth, and a steadfast dedication to making a difference. It’s about using art as a medium to transcend boundaries, spark conversations, and create a world that embraces empathy, understanding, and unity.
I create so anyone feeling the walls closing in around them can sense new possibilities through these abstract passageways. I believe that art recovers our mind’s reserves like a self-recharging battery. This is my humbling calling as an artist.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
A fun-filled itinerary for a week-long Metro Detroit visit :

Day 1: Kick things off with a brunch at Selden Standard restaurant in Downtown Detroit. Walk on the riverfront and take a river cruise. Have dinner at Takoi and end the night with gambling fun at the Motorcity Casino.

Day 2: Spend the morning exploring the Cranbrook Museum and gardens. Then grab lunch at Phoenicia trying their felafel sandwich with a fresh energizing juice. Take a walk through downtown Birmingham. Finish the evening having dinner at the Parc restaurant in downtown Detroit followed by a broadway show at the Fisher Theatre .

Day 3: Tour the Meadow Brook Hall estate and gardens in Rochester Hills. Have lunch at the hotspot Ale Mary’s grabbing their popular spinach & artichoke flatbread. Drive to Stonybrook Park and explore their trails. Have dinner at Mon Jin Lau in Troy known for their scallion pancakes and ginger garlic eggplant.

Day 4: Start the day browsing the DIA and do some drawing in the galleries. Eat at their cafe. Visit nearby exhibits at the Scarab Club, MOCAD, Kayrod Gallery and Detroit Artists market. Have some Greek fare at Pegasus Taverna in Greektown. Catch a show or concert at one of the nearby theaters like the Fox or Music hall.

Day 5: Go orchard picking and snag some freshly baked goods at Blake Farms before having lunch at the Vault in Clarkston. Go shopping at the Great lakes Outlet Mall followed by dinner at the rainbow cafe. Indulge in their bowling alley for entertainment or watch a movie on I-Max theatre there.

Day 6: Head to Belle Isle for beautiful skyline views and explore its conservatory and aquarium. Then visit the Ford estate in Grosse Pointe Shores to walk through the historical estate and have lunch there. Visit the War memorial and have dinner in Mexicantown. Cap off the night at the Jazz club
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Day 7: Start with a delicious brunch at Seva – an all vegetarian restaurant in Midtown. They can try dishes like stuffed french toast and tempeh hash. Then explore the stunning murals and street art in Eastern Market. In the evening, enjoy craft cocktails, live music, and some gastropub grub at Jolly Pumpkin.

Since a ton of things to see and do around Detroit is still left to do, will invite the friend again for exploring around Metro Detroit Area.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Absolutely, acknowledging the influence and support of others in my journey is essential. I owe a debt of gratitude to several individuals who have shaped my path and contributed significantly to my success. Firstly, I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to my teachers and colleagues for both my medical and artistic endeavors. Their guidance, wisdom, and unwavering support have been instrumental in shaping my professional trajectory. Their insights, encouragement, and expertise have been invaluable throughout my career transitions and personal growth. Moreover, the diverse cultural experiences and encounters along my journey have also played a significant role. Each interaction, each cultural exchange, has contributed to broadening my perspectives and nurturing my artistic and empathetic sensibilities.
Additionally, I owe a debt of gratitude to my family and friends for their unwavering belief in me. Their unconditional support, encouragement, and understanding have been a source of strength, enabling me to pursue my passions and aspirations fearlessly.

There are so many incredible individuals deserving recognition for profoundly shaping my journey – foremost the countless patients and families who trusted me with their well-being. My mother, who instilled compassion and taught me that being a good human being was the only thing that mattered in life. And most of all my husband – who supports all my endeavors as being just as potent as the pursuit of medicine. After a void upon leaving healthcare left me vulnerable, he helped me discover a lens of hope – via art. He also encouraged me to keep a journal and it’s a huge resource for my poems. Both my sons have also encouraged my refuge in visual art and my mission to leverage art for social impact.
So I dedicate this current chapter illustrating stories to their their faith in my imaginative refuge that restores and energizes me.
My art is gratitude for all those who have raised me up until I could narrate these unsung songs vibrantly in my creations. This is my small homage to all who have believed in me. In essence, my journey has been enriched by the collective efforts, support and encouragement of a multitude of individuals and experiences. It’s through their contributions and influences that I stand where I am today, and for that, I am immensely grateful.

Website: www.vasutolia.art

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toliavasu/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vasundhara-tolia-79695a34/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vasutolia/

Image Credits
The images are all mine.