After years of working from a home-based studio, Malaysian artist Zahrah Resh has opened her own 2,000 square foot contemporary art studio on the Eastside of Lansing.
“My business model opens the space by appointment only, so I needed a location that was easy to find, but high foot- or vehicle-traffic for visibility was not critical,” says Resh about her 2201 E. Grand River, Suite 202, address. “It also needed to be convenient for me to get to for appointments. And of course, the quality of the 
available space played a key role.”
The Zahrah R gallery is above Sutton Advisors’ office. She is a contemporary artist who got her professional start when her acquaintance, Ann Shera, saw the artwork in Resh’s home. Shera’s support encouraged Zahrah to start selling her work.
“As far back as I can remember, I have always wanted to create and express art. I am a self-taught artist from Malaysia, but have lived more than half my lifetime here in the United States,” Resh says.
“My artistic endeavors started when I learned at an early age from my mother, the art of cooking. Food became my first medium," she says. "By layering flavors and textures and mixing colors of different ingredients I create a range of meals, from plain comfort foods to rich, exotic offerings.”
Resh says regional assets such as the capital and Michigan State University (MSU), as well as the area’s strong neighborhood identity, prompted her to stay in the area.
“The diversity of the area was a pleasant surprise, and the people are genuinely friendly,” she says. “Overall, I believe the quality of life here is very good.”
Resh had her opening in December 2008.
Source: Rochelle Rizzi, Rizzi Designs
Ivy Hughes, development news editor, can be reached here.
Artwork by: Zahrah Resh
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