BIO
Deepa Jayaraman is an Indian visual artist based in New Delhi. Her works ranges from drawing on paper to animation. Primarily with black ink, layering traces into a “black noise”, quiet yet disquieting lines that reveal emotions at the brink of chaos. Rooted in fantasy and illustrative art, her practice inhabits a liminal space between childhood and adulthood, creating characters, oblivious children, semiotic animals, and masquerading adults that negotiate identity at the edge of disruption. Through a freehand and improvisatory process, she reimagines archetypes to reflect collective anxieties and the complexities of human experience.
Curated presentation: An Instigators’ Handbook for Play, Friendship, Generosity, and Autonomy (video section), Kochi Biennale Foundation | Alice Yard, 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).
Received 100 Artists Swiss Culture Grant hosted by artlink- SüdKulturFonds (2022), Cover and Feature Artist - AGNI Magazine -Issue 93, Boston University, U.S. Literary Journal, contributor (2021) & featured drawing ‘Ascending Sparks’ Issue 96 (2022). Five Million Incidents Grant, Goethe-Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan, with Raqs Media Collective (2019-2020).
She is a Gold Medalist in B.F.A. (2009) and M.F.A. (2011) from the College of Art, University of Delhi, and a recipient of the Sailoz Mukherjee Award for artistic excellence.
CV
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.
CURATED EXHIBITIONS AND PARTICIPATION:
2025- 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.
2020- OUTSIDE: IN| A Series Of Vignettes By RAW MANGO curated by Sneha Khanwalkar (short live video)
2016- 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.
2015- 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.
2014- Artszia Art Gallery, Hauz Khas Village, Delhi, India.
2013- 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.
2012- ‘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.
2011,2010,2009- Annual Art Exhibition at College of Art, New Delhi, India.
2010-Painting Workshop & Exhibition at All India Fine Arts Institute, Amritsar, Punjab, India.
2010-‘Delhi Movement ‘at Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi, India.
2008 Winner of Illustration/Annual Illustrated Calendar/Diary by Delhi Tourism, Govt. of NCT Delhi, India.
2008,2007,2006- Annual Art Exhibition at College of Art, New Delhi, India.
INVITED ENGAGEMENTS:
2024- Invited for Artist Virtual Studio Visit, Caribbean Digital Virtual Artists Residency Programme, in partnership with Alice yard and supported by Melon Foundation,Yale University.
2022- 'Ascending Sparks' (drawing) , featured in AGNI Literary Journal, Issue 96, published by Boston University (U.S. Journal for fiction, poetry, and essay).
2021- Invited for 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.
GRANTS:
2022: Recipient of the '100 Artists' Grant hosted by Artlink Swiss in partnership with Sudkulturfonds.
2019-2020: Recipient of the Project Grant 'Five Million Incidents' by Goethe-Institut/Max Mueller Bhavan in collaboration with Raqs Media Collective.
PUBLICATION:
2021- Cover and Feature Artist, ‘Pincushion Anatomy’ (Essay). AGNI Literary Journal, Issue 93, published by Boston University
(U.S. Journal for fiction, poetry, and essay)
AWARDS:
2011- Gold Medalist with Distinction, M.F.A Final Year, University of Delhi, College of Art, New Delhi, India.
2009- Gold Medalist with Distinction, B.F.A Final Year, University of Delhi, College of Art, New Delhi, India.
2009- 'Sailoz Award', B.F.A Final Academic Year, College of Art, New Delhi, India.
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.