Ananda Toulon lives in a fantasy world of her own design. From her Uphams Corner studio, she paints whimsy, humor, and surrealism into the world around her. She has done work all over the city – painting murals, mentoring younger artists, and taking private commissions.
The fantastical imagery of Toulon’s work comes from her need to self-regulate. “I feel like the style that I developed was because I didn’t have the resources for therapy in my high school years. I was like, ‘It’s time to draw and self-soothe and figure this shit out.’”
She sees the act of painting as a chance to both reflect upon the things that confuse her and better understand her relationships with the people around her.
When projects get difficult, she injects humor to help her get out of her head. She reflected on a childhood spent falling asleep to comedy radio and how that experience overlaps with her painting. “Observational introspection is just, like, something that drives me as a person,” she said.
Early in her career, a teenage Toulon would cut classes at Boston Arts Academy to take on vending opportunities and work on small projects. “I [found] out very quickly how people will, in fact, take advantage.” She rolled with the punches and continued to hone her craft. Today, her hard work is paying off, allowing her to be more exclusive.
“I told myself I wouldn’t take jobs I don’t align with because I don’t know how not to care,” she said.
Those jobs have included winning Boston’s 2023 Art Battle, completing a fellowship with Artist’s For Humanity, and painting the inside centerfold for the vinyl of Janelle Monáe’s “The Age of Pleasure,” – a painting of Monáe’s breasts.
Toulon had just finished her previous major project, an oil painting titled “Ode to Joy,” when a middleman reached out with the offer she described as “hush, hush.”
“I didn’t get to listen to the [album] beforehand,” she said. “I got a little folder that was very secret so I could do my research and make them look like boobs.”
A career painting dancing deer and the tasteful nudes of an R&B singer may sound like a dream come true for Toulon, but landing these kinds of jobs requires diligence and a massive investment of both talent and time.
“I really think it was just busting my ass,” she said. “I’m doing art to survive. I’m not just coloring for nothing.”
Toulon shares her studio with several other local artists including longtime collaborator, Phoebe Warner. On June 7, and 8, the two led the creation of a community mural through Open Studios.
“It is great to paint and inspire the kids and community. They don’t think about colors so critically and make some really sweet choices to go off of.”
The end goal of Toulon’s artistry is to be able to support a fulfilling life surrounded by genuine connection. “And maybe being able to afford to live. That’d be so swag,” she said.
Tulon’s work is documented on her Instagram, @anandatoulon. Her commissions are currently open.
Photo by Janna March
Ananda is my absolute favorite Boston based artist! I’m so glad she got this interview!! Hopefully this leads to more murals for her in dorchester. She’s so talented!
Great read!!!