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BIO

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Deepa Jayaraman is an Indian visual artist based in New Delhi. Her work ranges from drawing on paper to animation. Her drawings are spontaneous, freehand, and improvisational. They emerge from both random thoughts and carefully considered thematic concerns. She describes her works as an uneasy loop circling between facts and fiction. Satirical and ironic, her images appear dark, monochromatic, and unreal, yet for her they are absolutely real.She draws through layers of graphic lines over figurations that are purging out their dreams and nightmares. She uses black lines as black noise, a noise without sound, absorbing the surrounding drama. Attempting to see through the veneers of idealism to the infested reality, she draws not just the palpable politics but the poetic undercurrents of society. A world of uncertainties and 24/7 information impingement, perpetually nudging familiar and unfamiliar feelings. Feelings that swing from innocence to the macabre.

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She received the 100 Artists Swiss Culture Grant hosted by artlink in partnership with SüdKulturFonds(2022), she was the  Cover and Feature Artist for AGNI Magazine -Issue 93, Boston University, U.S. Literary Journal for fiction, poetry and essays, and a contributor to the same issue (2021). Her drawing Ascending Sparks was featured in AGNI Literary Magazine- Issue 96 (2022) and Five Million Incidents Grant, Goethe-Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan, in collaboration with Raqs Media Collective (2019-2020).

 

Her works were part of various notably curated presentations: An Instigators’ Handbook for Play, Friendship, Generosity, and Autonomy(video section), Alice Yard|Kochi Biennale Foundation, India (2025). As Tranquil as Can Be, Raqs Media Collective | Scores in Transit, curated by Vidya Shivadas, Serendipity Arts Festival, Goa, India (2025). OUTSIDE: IN; Sound Paintings: A series of vignettes by Raw Mango curated by Sneha Khanwalkar (2020) and others.

 

She is a Gold Medalist with distinction in M.F.A. (2011) and B.F.A. (2009), College of Art, University of Delhi, and recipient of the Sailoz Mukherjee Award for artistic excellence.

CV

Based: New Delhi, India.

Website: www.deepajayaraman.com 

Email:    deepaj10@gmail.com

 
    GRANTS AND AWARDS

  • Recipient of the '100 Artists' Grant hosted by Artlink Swiss in partnership with Sudkulturfonds, 2022.

  • Recipient of the Project Grant 'Five Million Incidents' by Goethe-Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan in collaboration with Raqs Media Collective, 2019-2020

  • Gold Medalist with Distinction, M.F.A Final Year, University of Delhi, College of Art, New Delhi, India, 2011.

  • Gold Medalist with Distinction, B.F.A Final Year, University of Delhi, College of Art, New Delhi, India, 2009.


    INVITED ENGAGEMENTS:

  • Invited for Artist Virtual Studio Visit, Caribbean Digital Virtual Artists Residency Programme, in partnership with Alice yard and supported by 

       Melon Foundation,Yale University, 2024.                       

  • 'Ascending Sparks' (drawing) , featured in AGNI Literary Journal, Issue 96, published by Boston University (U.S. Journal for fiction, poetry, and essay),2022.

  •  Cover illustration project with Wench Film Festival, India's first film festival showcasing films made by women filmmakers inclusive of       BIWOC,LGBTQ+women and non-binary people, 2021.

                     

    PUBLICATION:

  •  Cover and Feature Artist, ‘Pincushion Anatomy’ (Essay). AGNI Literary Journal, Issue 93, published by Boston University (U.S. Journal for fiction, poetry, and essay) , 2021.​


    SELECTED EXHIBITIONS AND PARTICIPATION:

  •  An Instigators’ Handbook for Play, Friendship, Generosity, and Autonomy,Curated screening (Video), Alice Yard|Kochi Biennale Foundation, India, 2025.

  •  As Tranquil as Can Be, Raqs Media Collective | Scores in Transit, curated by Vidya Shivadas, Serendipity Arts Festival, Goa, India, 2025.

  • OUTSIDE: IN| A Series Of Vignettes By RAW MANGO curated by Sneha Khanwalkar (short live video), 2020.

  • Framed Feline at Art Houz India, Chennai, India, 2016.

  • Books Meet Art  at Art Centrix Space, Delhi, India, 2016.

  • ‘Vama III’- All India Fine Arts & Crafts Society, Sahitya Kala Parishad, Govt. of NCT, Delhi, 2016.

  • Line LOC- of Control, Birla Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata, India, 2016.

  • Go Tell It On The Mountain , Balgandharva Kaladalan, Pune Biennale, Mumbai, India, 2015.

  • ‘Vama II’, Indira Gandhi National Art Centre, Twin Gallery, Sahitya Kala Parishad, Govt. of NCT Delhi, 2015.

  • ‘Valley of Flowers’, 6 Frame Story Illustrations for Pratham Books Publication, Bangalore, India, 2015.

  • Artszia Art Gallery, Hauz Khas Village, Delhi, India, 2014.

  • Rare Act of Political Engagement at Art Konsult, New Delhi.India, 2013.

  • ‘Vama’ at Indira Gandhi National Art Centre, Twin Gallery, New Delhi, in collaboration with Sahitya Kala Parishad, Govt. of NCT Delhi, India, 2013.

  • ‘Prologue to Unreal’ at Lalit Kala Academy by PANCHKONE (group founder member), New Delhi, India, 2012.

  • ‘Semblance’ at Visual Art Gallery, India Habitat Centre by PANCHKONE (group founder member), New Delhi, India, 2012.

  • Annual Art Exhibition at College of Art, New Delhi, India- 2011, 2010, 2009.

  • Painting Workshop & Exhibition at All India Fine Arts Institute, Amritsar, Punjab, India, 2010.

  • ‘Delhi Movement ‘at Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi, India, 2010.

  • Winner of Illustration/Annual Illustrated Calendar/Diary by Delhi Tourism, Govt. of NCT Delhi, India, 2008.

  • Annual Art Exhibition at College of Art, New Delhi, India-2008, 2007, 2006.

    REVIEWS/ARTICLES:Blogs/Magazines/Newspapers.

  • February 3, 2021 - 'Manifesting Sideways' by Plural Features on their blog Five Million Incidents
     https://fivemillionincidents.wordpress.com/2021/02/03/manifesting-sideways/

  •  Mar-April 2012, 'art & deal' Magazine Issue 47 /Vol.8 No.17: A review of artworks in the 'From Facebook' column.

  • February 24, 2015 - 'Sparsely Coloured yet Densely Populated Narrative' published by Pratham Books
    https://prathambooks.org/deepa-jayaramans-sparsely-coloured-ye/

  • May 6, 2013 - 'Painted, Sensitive and Unafraid' by M.L. Johny, published in The Art Daily
    https://mljohnyml.blogspot.com/2013/05/war-of-relics-deepa-jayaraman-rummana.html?m=1

  •  April 11, 2013 - 'Through Her Eyes' published in The Asian Age https://www.pressreader.com/search?query=deepa%20jayaraman%20through%20her%20eyes&in=ALL&orderBy=Relevance&searchFor=Articles

  • April 12, 2013 - 'Not Dented but Painted' published in Hindustan Times
    https://www.pressreader.com/india/ht-city/20130412/281771331666821?srsltid=AfmBOorbk98u6xTysP6CA2yJSjqtWCzO21rUXNIOn5lFW0MEy6MLk-Jk

  •  November 18, 2012 - 'A fusion of five artistic styles' published in Panchkone, Hindustan Times
    https://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/on-display-a-fusion-of-five-artistic-styles/story-wv9GvojYxUyUyRosDafNUM.html

   
    Work in Collections:
    The Times of India Collection, 2010.
    College of Art, Delhi Collection, 2009.
    Private collections - 2013, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023,2024,2025.

    EDUCATION QUALIFICATION:

    Masters of Fine Arts (M.F.A), Specialization- Painting, College of Art, Delhi University, New Delhi, India, 2009-2011. 

     Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A), Specialization-Painting, College of Art, Delhi University, New Delhi, India, 2005-2009. 

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