Priya Ray
Astitva Devi- The Goddess of Just Existing, 2025
Framed digital print, 15” x 12”. $200
Website: http://diyabled.com/
North Carolina, USA
Framed digital print, 15” x 12”. $200
Website: http://diyabled.com/
North Carolina, USA
ABOUT THE ART:
In a world that demands productivity, perfection, and a sense of cure, Astitva Devi was born from a stillness that refuses to fade away. She did not arrive in a chariot of fire or descend from the stars; instead, she emerged from a hospital bed, a street corner, a wheelchair, or a breath taken slowly and deliberately. Her power lies not in doing more, but in being fully and unapologetically.
Astitva Devi holds no sword. Her power is presence. Her miracles are small and life-saving: a deep exhale, a moment of rest, a door held open. Her body is not a battlefield to be won — it is a sanctuary filled with stories, wounds, adaptations, and joy. Her eternal companion, Godzooky the Dog, walks by her side. A divine service animal with soft ears and sharper instincts, Godzooky is no mere pet — he is a holy embodiment of interdependence, loyalty, and access. Where Astitva Devi goes, Godzooky follows, opening more than just physical doors — he opens space for connection, support, and dignity. Together, they show that divine strength often comes not in independence but in mutual care.
She teaches that to exist as a disabled person is divine, revolutionary, and enough. There is no need to prove yourself or perform for others; simply being is holy. Her followers are those who have been told by the world to shrink, fix themselves, or disappear. In her gaze, they are always seen. In her stillness, they are always held. They remember in her story that you do not have to become more; you already are.
Astitva Devi does not demand devotion. She reminds you—You are sacred just as you are. And if you forget, Godzooky will be there — tail wagging, heart open—to guide you home to yourself.
Astitva Devi holds no sword. Her power is presence. Her miracles are small and life-saving: a deep exhale, a moment of rest, a door held open. Her body is not a battlefield to be won — it is a sanctuary filled with stories, wounds, adaptations, and joy. Her eternal companion, Godzooky the Dog, walks by her side. A divine service animal with soft ears and sharper instincts, Godzooky is no mere pet — he is a holy embodiment of interdependence, loyalty, and access. Where Astitva Devi goes, Godzooky follows, opening more than just physical doors — he opens space for connection, support, and dignity. Together, they show that divine strength often comes not in independence but in mutual care.
She teaches that to exist as a disabled person is divine, revolutionary, and enough. There is no need to prove yourself or perform for others; simply being is holy. Her followers are those who have been told by the world to shrink, fix themselves, or disappear. In her gaze, they are always seen. In her stillness, they are always held. They remember in her story that you do not have to become more; you already are.
Astitva Devi does not demand devotion. She reminds you—You are sacred just as you are. And if you forget, Godzooky will be there — tail wagging, heart open—to guide you home to yourself.
ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Priya Ray is the force behind DIYabled, a grassroots group that believes DIY spaces are essential to creating a healthy thriving community. To support thriving community, DIY spaces need to be inclusive and accessible to people of all races, genders, sexual orientation and ability. The goal of DIYabled is to provide a place where we can ALL work together as a community to find solutions to make DIY spaces accessible to People Living with Disabilities (PLD).
DESCRIPTION
Astitva Devi:
A graphic image of a blue skinned woman on a wheelchair with a small green dog on her lap. She wears textured yellow pants, a black and green T-shirt with a pink logo on the front, and back sneakers with white shoelaces. One arm is raised upwards and the other rests on the dog. The power wheelchair is red with acid green highlights. Behind her is a marbled purple and green background with DISABLED PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE repeated over and over in grey block letters.
Art description by A. Laura Brody
A graphic image of a blue skinned woman on a wheelchair with a small green dog on her lap. She wears textured yellow pants, a black and green T-shirt with a pink logo on the front, and back sneakers with white shoelaces. One arm is raised upwards and the other rests on the dog. The power wheelchair is red with acid green highlights. Behind her is a marbled purple and green background with DISABLED PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE repeated over and over in grey block letters.
Art description by A. Laura Brody
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Opulent Mobility by A. Laura Brody is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License
The Opulent Mobility license refers to the exhibit and its audio descriptions. Individual artworks are the property of the individual artists.