Anju Dodiya

Anju Dodiya is an Indian contemporary painter known for her sensitive and thought-provoking "fictional self-portraits." Her unique style combines watercolor and charcoal, resulting in striking juxtapositions and evocative imagery.

Anju Dodiya's Biography

Anju Dodiya was born in 1964 in Mumbai, Maharashtra. In 1986, she graduated with a BFA in Painting from the Sir J. J. School of Art. Notably, she is married to Atul Dodiya, a renowned contemporary Indian painter, and their daughter Biraaj Dodiya is also an artist who continues the family's creative legacy.

Dodiya's artistic journey has been marked by numerous major exhibitions both in India and internationally. Her works have been showcased at art events such as the Frieze Art Fair, Art Basel, the India Art Fair, and the Delhi Contemporary Art Week. Her art is a part of esteemed public collections such as the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi; the Kirrti Nayan Museum of Art, New Delhi; Vadhera Art Gallery, New Delhi; and Jehangir Nicholson Art Foundation, Mumbai. 

Dodiya's talent and dedication have been honored with various awards and nominations throughout her career. In 1999, she received the Reliance India Art Exhibition Award for Harmony, followed by the Young Achiever Award for the Indo-American Society in 2001 and the Zee Existence Award in 2007. Additionally, Dodiya has been nominated twice for the Sotheby's Prize for Contemporary Art, demonstrating her artistic excellence and impact.

Anju Dodiya currently resides and works in her hometown of Mumbai.

Anju Dodiya's art style

Anju Dodiya, a devoted watercolorist, fearlessly explores the boundaries of her chosen medium, pushing it to its limits on challenging surfaces that test both scale and texture. Her artistic creations often present a captivating interplay between delicate and seemingly spontaneous watercolor smudges and stains, juxtaposed with assertive charcoal incursions that showcase hard-lined precision.

Her early art leaned toward the abstract style. Dodiya's enduring fascination with the human mind and psychoanalysis has consistently influenced her work, leading to the integration of anthropomorphic imagery in her pieces. Her artistic vision has been shaped by a diverse range of inspirations, including Renaissance painters such as Giotto, the films crafted by Ingmar Bergman, the ukiyo-e prints of Japan, and the poetry of Sylvia Plath. Furthermore, she has found inspiration in the depths of medieval devotional poetry, the enchanting tapestry of Gujarati folklore, and myths from around the world. The culmination of these multifaceted influences is manifested in her distinct and captivating art style.