Stephanie Deshpande is a realist painter based in northern New Jersey, recognized for her psychological portraits and narrative paintings, which often blend realism with personal allegories. She also enjoys painting florals and pet portraits, exploring a range of subjects with a subtle interplay of light and shadow. Her paintings delve into hidden emotions and capture the quiet drama of everyday moments.

Deshpande earned her BFA in Painting from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, followed by the prestigious Ellen Battell Stoeckel Fellowship to attend the Yale Summer School of Music and Art. She went on to receive her MFA from the New York Academy of Art, where she studied under renowned artists such as Vincent Desiderio, Steven Assael, Jon DeMartin, and Martha Erlebacher. Her work has since gained recognition from organizations like the Portrait Society of America, RayMar Art, the Art Renewal Center, Allied Artists of America, and Oil Painters of America. Deshpande’s paintings have been featured in notable publications including Poets Artists Magazine, The Artist’s Magazine, Fine Art Connoisseur, and American Art Collector. Her work is also included in the books 21st Century Figurative Art: The Resurrection of Art by Jan Esmann and 40 Contemporary Great Masters of Portrait Painting by The Art of Watercolour Magazine.

Her work has been exhibited at notable venues including the European Museum of Modern Art, Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art, National Arts Club, Sotheby’s, Salmagundi Club, and several prominent galleries such as Arcadia Contemporary, Principle Gallery Charleston, Haynes Galleries, Waterhouse Gallery, and RJD Fine Arts Gallery. The New Britain Museum of American Art acquired her painting Assembling the Pieces for their Post Contemporary collection. Additionally, her work is part of The Lunar Codex, Polaris Collection, a digital archive launched to the moon. She is currently represented by Abend Gallery and Collins Galleries.

In addition to painting, Deshpande enjoys mentoring artists and teaching both in-person and online. She currently teaches at the Ridgewood Art Institute in Ridgewood, NJ, and offers online courses through her website.