I guess I would have to classify myself as a “self taught” artist not having an MFA or a BFA degree.  I am a happy mix of self learning and a bit more formally from artists in workshops and institutions.  And after 5 years of figuring out things, I wouldn’t want it any other way!

The journey of understanding and making art, for me, is a continuous learning process: Improving existing skills, learning new ones and most of all growing with the experiments and experience.  Drawing and painting are an integral part of my life, something I am passionate about. This blog, Maya, documents the road traveled thus far.

People, their moods, interactions and emotions are an ongoing source of curiosity and interest to me. What I’m searching for is their inner personalities, their thoughts and there are stories I build around them as I work. I like portraying feelings of people when they are alone, lost in their thoughts, caught unawares. Those are the special moments that appeal to me most. I love to experiment and use a variety of medium ranging from oil, charcoal, printmaking, clay to the digital medium. Regardless, my focus remains fixed on the human form.

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Solo Shows:

“Chokher dekha, Praner Katha” a collection of select pieces made in the last 5 years with a concentration on work finished in the last 3.  Gallery Chitrak, Dhaka, May 29 – Jun 5, 2009

Group Shows:

Participated in Sri Lanka’s first “Colombo Art Biennale“.  The theme for the exhibition was “Imagining Peace“.  You can read about my entry here and about the piece I submitted here.  September 10 – 14, 2009

“Mechanical Fantasy – Open Studio“, an exhibition of the work produced at the workshop. Britto Arts Trust, Dhaka. January 30, 2009

“Jhaal Muri“, an Art & Photography Exhibition on Bangladesh Street Life.  Bay’s Galleria, Dhaka. November 8th – 23rd, 2008

13th Asian Art Biennale 2008, a key art event in the region, organised by Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy, Dhaka showcasing the art of established and young artists from 27 countries, October 21-November 19, 2008

Kormoshala Chapchitra Pradarshini, a group show of prints at the Gallery Chitrak based on work produced by workshop participants and a few guest artists, June 13th-18th, 2008.

In Search of Beautiful Impressions, a group show of prints with participation from leading artists and students of the Institute of Fine Art, Dhaka. June 2nd-4th, 2008 at the Bengal Gallery of Fine Arts

Friends & Faces, a Two Women Show, March 16th – 31st, 2008, Dhaka at the Standard Chartered Bank Art Gallery.

SHAKO Group exhibition and Poetry reading to mark International Womens Day, March 7 & 8th, 2008, Dhaka, Bangladesh hosted by Rubana Huq of Monsoon Letters.

UNWA Juried Silent Art Auction at the Mascara Ball 2007 to raise funds for the Hurricane Sidr Relief Fund. Held on December 7th at Pan Pacific, Hotel Sonargaon, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Education:

Art

Studio Course in Printmaking, Mar – Apr, 2009, held by the University of Development Alternative, with Shahid Kabir.

“Mechanical Fantasy”, printmaking workshop, Jan 14th – 22nd, 2009, held by the Britto Arts Trust, an artist-led, not for profit trust committed towards promoting exchange and dialogue between artistic communities internationally and within the region supported by the Ford Foundation.

Painting from Life, Composition, Color with Philip Lawrence Sherrod, The Art Students League New York, New York, August 2008

Sculpture : Modelling with Clay with Barney Hodes, The Art Students League New York, New York, August 2008

Printmaking workshop with well known artist Shahid Kabir at University Of Development Alternative (UODA), Dhaka. May 30 & 31st, 2008

Printmaking workshop “In Search of Beautiful Impressions” with Professors Nirmalendu Das and Pinaki Barua from Vishwa Bharati, Shantiniketan organised and held at the Institute of Fine Arts, Dhaka, sponsored by the Bengal Foundation. May 18th – 24th, 2008.

Creative Drawing & Art Appreciation with Javed Jalil, Dhaka, Nov 2007.

Life Drawing with Kuhu Plamondon, Dhaka, June 2007.

Painting from Life, Portraiture, Composition, Color with Mary Beth McKenzie, The Art Students League New York, New York, July 2006.

Audited the BFA Painting & Sculpture programs, College of Art, New Delhi, 2005-06

Art Classes with Ebenezer Sunder Singh, Sangeet Shyamala, New Delhi, Feb –Apr 2005

Art Classes – drawing, Alexandria, Egypt, Feb 2004

General

Business Management, Marketing and Finance, XLRI, Jamshedpur, 1987-89