WESTPORT–Staples High School senior Dhilan Patel is Westport Book Shop’s guest exhibitor for the month of March. Patel is exhibiting archival prints of an assortment of his paintings and drawings.

Patel began painting when he was in first grade, and says it is one of his favorite hobbies.  Painting has been instructive, Patel says. “While art has primarily been a hobby for me, it also teaches important qualities. Painting, for example, has taught me the importance of forward planning and patience (literally waiting for layers to dry).  Also, when people see your work they see the end result, but not the uncertainty and mistakes along the way, which art also teaches you to deal with. My first true art instructor, Mr. Jenya, always emphasized that not every stroke has to be perfect and not every action has to have the desired outcome; he encouraged me to work with what’s there and move forward. In hindsight he was instilling qualities such as humility, trust in the process, and openness to possibility.”

The Westport Book Shop will hold a reception for Dhilan and this exhibit on Thursday, March 19, 2026, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.  Space is limited; please RSVP to the Book Shop by phoning 203-349-5141 or sending an email to RSVP@westportbooksaleventures.org

Dhilan Patel’s artwork will be on exhibit at the Book Shop through March 31, 2026.  All artwork on display is available for purchase.

This art exhibit is open to the public during the Book Shop’s regular business hours: Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays from Noon to 5 p.m.

Westport Book Shop, a nonprofit independent used bookstore, is downtown Westport’s only source for gently used and antiquarian books, vintage vinyl records, CDs and DVDs.  It is located at 23 Jesup Road, right across Jesup Green from The Westport Library.

Dhilan Patel: 

Westport Book Shop
203-952-0070
20 Jesup Road
Westport
info@westportbooksales.org