5 Prolific Women Artists of Contemporary Indian Art

Indian women artists have always been an integral part of shaping the rich tapestry of India’s vibrant artistic history. In recent years, especially, they have emerged as powerful voices in contemporary Indian art, redefining and recontouring how we see art today.

Surpassing traditional boundaries, their works have been an impressive fusion of tradition and modernity. Not only do their oeuvres reflect the evolving narrative of the Indian identity but also their diverse and complex lives.

Presented here are prolific women artists in the Indian contemporary space who have used their visionary ideas, unique voices and mastery in skill to create an indelible impact on not just Indian contemporary art but also the global art world. 

Nalini Malani

Distinguished artist Nalini Malani is known for her ability to elevate social and cultural issues into the realm of art, using her distinctive style to engage and provoke thought. One of the most influential pioneers of video art, Malani has been essential in pushing boundaries in the contemporary art space in the country. The presented lot titled, ‘Quietly Flows The River,’ is a watercolour and acrylic work executed in 2005 and belongs to a larger body of painting and video works known as the Living in Alicetime series. Here, she delves into the multifaceted relationship between women and their environments, using Lewis Carroll’s iconic character Alice as a medium.

Mrinalini Mukherjee

An influential contemporary artist, Mrinalini Mukherjee was best known for her works utilizing hemp and fibre to create otherworldly figures. She not only learnt from her artist father Benode Behari Mukherjee and sculptor mother Leela Mukherjee but also from prolific modernist K.G. Subramanyan. She was endlessly influenced by indigenous techniques and traditional Indian art, resulting in a more nuanced appreciation of these techniques and styles on the global stage. The presented lot comes from an impressive series of works executed in bronze. The organic forms she created explore nature and evolution. The presented lot titled ‘Natural History’ is an extraordinary example of her creaturesque sculptures.        

Bharti Kher

One of the foremost Indian contemporary artists in the global art scene, Bharti Kher’s work concerns itself with everyday life, while also adding touches of magical realism to it. She uses found objects as the medium to create surreal works, the ‘bindi’ being her signature medium. Her ‘bindi’ works delve into the relationship between the metaphysical and the material. The series, inherently South Asian in its medium, has found ardent fans around the world, providing new contemporary artists further exposure around the world. The presented work belongs to her varied and impressive bindi works. Titled ‘Seeing Some Things Better’, this bindis on composite aluminium board work, executed in 2004, is a perfect example of her command over creating visually layered works. 

Jayashree Chakravarty

Born in Tripura in 1956, Jayashree Chakravarty is inspired by the fusion of urbanity and nature, an event she herself witnessed growing up as her hometown was overtaken by a concrete jungle. She utilises art-making techniques unique to her such as paper scrolls, varied papers and other organic materials. She often uses superimposed imagery to create autobiographical works that reflect the fluidity of the world, and the oneness of man and nature. The presented work titled ‘Space Within (Double-sided)’ is executed using pigment, acrylic, enamel, sand on paper and fabric in 2005, is indicative of her mastery of the mediums. Her work has been exhibited in galleries around the world including Musee Departemental Des Arts Asiatiques Nice, France; Palazzo Madama, Turin, Italy; Chicago Cultural Center, Illinois, USA and The Tagore Centre, Berlin, Germany among others. 

Schandra Singh:

Schandra Singh, born in 1977 in New York, is an impressive contemporary artist whose works often depict her subjects in states of rest. Her primary concern when creating these works is to facilitate communication in times of uncertainty, and at other times to express certain situations. The presented work, titled Annie and executed in 2007 in oil on linen, is from her prominent series where figures are standing or lying in shallow water, enjoying a holiday. Utilising a mosaic of colours and varied patterns, her works are a satirical view on people at rest during times of unrest. Her dynamic and often provocative works have solidified her position as one of the finest contemporary Indian-origin artists of our time.

With their distinct styles, opinions and techniques, these distinguished women artists have made a name for themselves and the potential of Indian art on a global scale. Not only have they provided an immense, ever-expanding platform for generations of women artists to emerge from the sub-continent but shaped the voice of contemporary India as a whole. Their bodies of work, an in-depth look into the socio-political climate of the country and their individual concerns, have left a lasting impact on Indian art history, fostering exponential growth and innovation. 

Ankita Talreja is AVP - Client Relations at AstaGuru Auction House. Views expressed by the author are their own

Suggested Reading: Celebrating Amrita Sher-Gil, The Trailblazing Woman of Modern Indian Art