‘My personal philosophy is to open people’s minds to the beauty of our times and the scenes of everyday life around us. - usha shantharam
Usha Shantharam is a fine artist based in Bengaluru India. She is a graduate in Home Science and holds a certificate on 'Post War Abstract Painting' issued by the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA- USA).
Her paintings evoke a feeling of peace, comfort, hope, and connectedness in our hearts, and make us look at the beautiful and brighter side of life.
Her artistic journey started right from her childhood days when she won many prizes for Art and Craft at school and college. Having studied the Principles of Art, Design, and Colour in her college curriculum, she has since then developed her way into the field of Fine Art, after attending a beautiful atelier style Art workshop with Sister Good Shepherd in Bengaluru.
Her paintings are portrayed in the ‘Contemporary Impressionism style. She has a passion for experimenting with interesting new colour combinations, unusual angles, and the play of light and shadows in her paintings.
She paints on Indian themes and culture which is a reflection of the lifestyle around her. She believes that painting from real life is truly a satisfying experience as we tend to learn a lot about the world around us and even about ourselves in the process. Not limiting herself where subjects are concerned, she paints Figurative, Landscapes, Portraits, Still Life, and Abstract.
She often paints a series of paintings based on a selected theme.
Her ‘LAYA’ series of paintings are based on the theme of Indian classical dancers performing on stage. It is inspired by the annual ‘Khajuraho Festival of Dance’ held at Khajuraho in the state of Madhya Pradesh - India.
Her ‘Body Language’ series of paintings gives a peek into the life of the common Indian man/woman; whom we see every day, and yet do not have the time to really look at and appreciate the beauty of the simple attire, poise, posture and lifestyle of our culture. This is an ever-growing series, and paintings get added to it all the time.
Her ‘Love in Lal Bagh’ series of paintings is all about those couples who meet under the beautifully flowering and gigantic trees of Lal Bagh to share their care for each other, thus creating an aura of peace, love, and happiness in the air.
Her ‘The Drawing Room Musings’ series is a collection of ‘en plein air’ paintings of Indian Landscapes done on location at Lal Bagh Bengaluru, Mysore University Campus, Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary, and Ooty. As the name suggests, they are museum-quality drawing-room paintings.
Her ‘Moods of the Sea’ series is a set of seascape paintings done in oils on wood panels, that portray the beautiful moods and colors of the Sea, Sky, and Land of the Tioman island beach, situated in Malaysia.
Her ‘Black and White’ series of paintings depicts the secret shapes and forms of the beautiful ‘Lal Bagh’ Park situated at the heart of the city of Bengaluru.
Usha’s paintings have been featured on book covers and magazine articles, on BBC World News Hangout, and on National TV.
Her painting called 'Dance of Mahishasura Mardini' was described as ' A wonderful piece of Art' by Benjamin Zand director/BJ at BBC World News Hangout on YouTube.
Her ‘Bollywood painting’ portraying actor Sridevi in the movie 'Mr. India' was appreciated and shown by the actor herself during a talk show on the National TV channel.
Artist Usha Shantharam has exhibited her paintings extensively in many group shows and solo shows in various cities in India. She is internationally renowned and her paintings can be found in the private collection of Collectors from India, U.S., UK, Europe, South Africa, and Australia.
Art Shows:
2023- ‘Nari Kala Mahotsav’ mega Women’s Day show at Chitra Kala Pairhsad Bengaluru. 8th to 12th March 2023.
2021- 'SHE' Woman'ess and Beyond - Online Women's Day Art Show - part of proceeds to Dream School Foudations an NGO - 8th March to 8th April 2021.
2020-'OnArt Fair'- the first ever Online Art Fair by Mojarto- 28-30 Aug 2020.
2020- 'Perceptions and Explorations' - group art show at Chitra Kala Parishath - Bengaluru 27th Jan to Feb 2nd, 2020.
2020- 'Sallumarada Thimmakka'- group art exhibition themed on Padmashree Awardee Thimmakka at Vincent Art Gallery- Bengaluru. 19th Jan to 10th Feb 2020.
2019 – ‘Celebration of Human Colors’- portrait group art show at Chitra Kala Parishath – Bengaluru, 14th to 20th Nov 2019.
2016- ‘Black and White’- themed group art show at Venkatappa Art Gallery – 14th to 23rd Oct 2016.
2015 – ‘Gajamukha’- group art show at Reves Art Gallery Bangalore 19th to 30th Sept.
2015 – ‘Exprima Frais’- group art show at Reves Art Gallery – Bangalore – 26th July to 5th August.
2015- ‘Akanksha2’- mega group art show at CKP Art Gallery and museum – Bengaluru- 15th to 19th April.
2014- 'Akanksha' group art show with 50 women artists celebrating Women's Day at Chitra Kala Parishath - 8-10 March.
2013- ‘LAYA’ – Rhythms of Nature and Dance – group art show at Chitra Kala Parishath.Art Complex. Bengaluru- 4th to 10th Oct 2013.
2013 – ‘Melange’ group art show in aid of the ISPTD (Indian Society for Performers and Teachers of Dance) 13th Sept to 10th Oct at Sublime Art Gallery Bengaluru.
2012 – 23rd to 27th March ‘ArtWave’ group art show by 35 artists at Chitra Kala Parishad – Bengaluru.
2011 – Group art show ‘The Drawing Room Musings’- along with her students of art class. - 16th May to 25th May at Karnataka Chitra Kala Parishad. Bengaluru.
2009 – Nov 8th and 9th – Group display of paintings at ‘The Bangalore Club’ – Bengaluru.
2009 – May 3rd to 13th, ‘Prathibimba’ two-person show along with the children of ‘APSA Dream School’ at ‘Renaissance Art Gallery, Bangalore.
2009 - Solo show ‘Body Language’ at Chitra Kala Parishath, Bangalore, from 1st to 8th February.
2008-2009 – Traveling Group shows at Jodhpur ('Palette Symphony of art Gallery Jan 4th to 24th '); Jaipur, (14th March to 24th March); Calcutta('GC Laha Centenary Fine Arts Gallery' Dec 29th to Jan 10th); and Goa, as member of the ‘Scribble artists association’- Hyderabad.
2007 - Solo show – The Indian Scene’ - at the ‘Trinity Acres and Woods’ Community gallery -8th&9th December.
2007 – 3rd to 6th May, ‘Art Works’ – Two-person show at ‘Chithra Kala Parishath’ Art complex at Bangalore in May.
Awards and Achievements:
2016 – Conducted 2 days workshop on 30th and 31st July at Reves Art Gallery on ‘How to paint a Flower Vase Still Life from a real-life setting’.
2014- Conducted workshop 13-14 Dec at Reves Art Gallery. ‘Learn to paint a still life in acrylics’.
2014- The painting ‘Sridevi in Mr. India’ featured on the ETV Telugu channel by the popular Actor Sridevi herself.
2014- Painting called 'Shree420' featured in 'Elle' Magazine in the April issue.
2014- Featured in 'Indian Talent Magazine in their February issue.
2013 – Participated by invitation - Live discussion on BBC World News Hangout – about ‘What makes Art Iconic’ on 5th June. The show was hosted by Will Gompetz BBC Arts Editor and Benjamin Zand Producer/BJ at BBC World.
2013- Painting called 'Dance of Mahishasura Mardini' described as a 'wonderful piece of art' by Benjamin Zand director/BJ at BBC World News Hangout.
2010- 10th Feb – Juror of ‘Abstract Art’ competition held by The Bishop Cottons Girls College – Bengaluru.
2010 – 5th Feb - Awarded ‘Woman Entrepreneur in the field of Art’ by the students of Bishop Cottons Girls Collage during ‘Entrepreneurs Week’.
2010 – 17th and 18th January - Participated in the ‘Art and Social Media’ Workshop – Bangalore.
- En plein air’ art camp at Lal Bagh – Bangalore, as a member of ‘Bangalore Art Forum’.
2008 - Finalist –for Nationwide Art competition –Kala Sangati – Hyderabad.
2007 – Her paintings ‘Green Earth and Red Oil’ and the ‘Water Lilies’ were selected by the US-based Gallery Front.com Art organization for their ‘Peak Oil’ project and published in the Sept-Oct 2007 issue of their Art Magazine.
2005 - Participated in ‘Chitra Santhe’ at Karnataka Chitra Kala Parishad.
1998 –Participated and organized the ‘Rajasthani miniature painting’ workshop by renowned artist Shri Uma Shankar Sharma.
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