Echoes of the Stepwell, a grey abstract acrylic painting by Ritu Raj (acrylic on woodcut, 4 × 4 ft)

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Abstract Inquiry · 2025

Echoes of the Stepwell

Exploring Symmetry and Sacred Geometry

4 × 4 ft · Acrylic on woodcut · 2025

Available · in the studio, Phoenix

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Sacred geometry that echoes — the stepwell's symmetry still sounding in the paint long after the architecture is gone.

Echoes of the Stepwell is a quiet architectural meditation—an abstract exploration of symmetry, structure, and sacred geometry. Measuring 4ft by 4ft, this mixed media work is created on CNC-carved MDF wood and hand-finished with acrylic paint and epoxy resin. It belongs to my Pop Art collection, but draws equally from history and introspection.

The surface unfolds in a refined monochrome palette of black, white, and soft gray. On the left, two vertically stacked squares radiate concentric patterns in subtle layers of white and silver. On the right, a tall, narrow rectangle offers contrast—a column of nested forms that suggest depth, order, and passage. A silver outline edges the entire composition, lending quiet cohesion and a sense of formal clarity.

This piece was inspired by my ongoing fascination with India’s ancient stepwells—structures that descend into the earth in perfect rhythm, used for centuries as sites of water, ritual, and contemplation. Here, those echoes become abstracted—less literal, more sensed. It’s about entering a form and finding space, both visually and emotionally.

The combination of digitally precise carving and hand-applied surface treatments reflects my interest in bridging tradition and technology. The etched lines create a tactile field that plays with shadow and light, while the epoxy gloss gives the piece a reflective depth—inviting the viewer to not only see, but to look again.

Echoes of the Stepwell is a painting about rhythm and reverence, simplicity and structure. It asks you to slow down and step in—to find your own echo in the balance of space and silence.

Where to see it. In person at RituStudio, Phoenix, by appointment. Represented by Jarrow & Goodman, Los Angeles.

The space it needs

Wall
At least 5 ft wide
Ceiling
8 ft or more
Light
Natural light preferred — the resin catches it and the color shifts through the day
Daylight
Near black, charcoal and silver will not warm or cool with the day. The carved woodcut geometry comes alive in raking light from a side window, while flat overhead sun quiets the steps.

Lives best in

Living room 5/5

Echoes of the Stepwell rewards the room where people slow down. It changes on th

Hotel lobby 5/5

Strong enough to hold an arrival space, intimate enough to reward a longer look.

Details

Size
4 × 4 ft (W × H)
Medium
Acrylic on woodcut
Finish
Epoxy over acrylic. The resin lifts the color off the canvas and holds it forward, so the surface deepens as the light moves across the room.
Year
2025
Collection
Abstract Inquiry
Palette
Near Black · Spectral Gray · Charcoal Gray · Silver
Weight
About 22 lb
Ready
In the studio; delivery 8–12 weeks

Its reading

Read on the six dimensions of ArtGraph.

  • Texture4
  • Form4
  • Colour range1
  • Palette4
  • Contrast3.7
  • Abstraction Quotient1
Read the full reading on ArtGraph →

Keywords

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