Sikh Ohio

Sikh Ohio: Faith, Culture, and Life in America
by Akash Pamarthy

April 9 - May 7, 2026
Thursday, April 9, 5-7pm: Opening for Capitol Hill Art Walk

Tuesday, April 14, 1-2pm: Opening Reception for Seattle Central Students & Staff (open to the public)
Artist Talk follows from 2-3pm Tuesday, April 14 in the Art Gallery
 

The Art Gallery is open from 10am to 3pm, Monday through Thursday, directions & info: here.

"Growing up in India, I was always taught that India is a land of diverse cultures. After moving to the United States, I wanted to discover the same diversity here, to explore how immigrant communities preserve their roots while embracing new identities. Among them, the Sikh community has always fascinated me. A friend’s father once told me, “You’ll never find a Sikh man begging on the street,” and to this day, I never have. The Sikhs I met are deeply community-oriented, family-centered, disciplined, and selfless always ready to help others.

As one of the youngest religions in the world, Sikhism has endured misunderstanding and hardship, yet continues to flourish with grace and resilience. Through this project, I spent time with Sikh families across Ohio documenting their faith, culture, and the ways they pass on their heritage to the next generation. During the project, I lived with Jasbir Singh, an 80-year-old man.

I never met my grandfathers, but my time with him felt like what it would have been to have one. He taught me everyday skills like chopping wood, cooking, shoveling snow and lessons about patience, kindness, and purpose. In every home and gurdwara, I saw the same zeal: a commitment to preserve their culture and faith. The community organizes special classes for children, teaching them Punjabi, Sikh history, and traditional martial arts like gatka, a way to stay rooted in their identity while leading life in America. Young figures like Vik Sandhu, the first elected Punjabi official in Richfield, Sukhvir Singh Grewal, the first turbaned Sikh police officer in Ohio, and Jasleen Kaur, who taught Sikh history and skills to children, reflect this ongoing story of visibility and pride.

The Sikh community contributes across all walks of American life as entrepreneurs, doctors, truckers, and public servants. They serve in the military, vote responsibly, and even share a love for football, both playing and cheering for their beloved teams. Through their faith and work, they remind us that being American isn’t defined by race or religion — it’s about contribution, compassion, and community.

Sikh Ohio is a photographic exploration of this spirit of a community proud of both its American identity and its Sikh heritage, continuing to build bridges between faith, culture, and belonging."
 

- Akash Pamarthy

Image: Akash Pamarthy