An artist who combines print making techniques, photographic references and painting

Thought provoking works by Sonia Mehra Chawla encapsulate and inculcate the ever-fluid essence of the organic. The ambiguous, hybrid forms often suggest the generative and the sensuous. She employs a wide array of media and forms with an aim to focus on the purging of biodiversity, biomorphic patterning, often relating the urban with the organic in complex layering.

The mixed media artist has developed a style uniquely her own combining print making techniques, photographic references and painting using acrylic paints, oils and inks. Born in 1977, Kolkata (West Bengal), she completed her BFA and MFA in Painting from College of Art, New Delhi in 2001 and 2004 respectively. She has worked extensively in etching and lithography - first under eminent Indian printmaker Anupam Sud and then at Atelier 2221, Print and Edition studio.

A Gold Medalist (MFA) from College of Art and University of Delhi (2004), she was one of the youngest recipients of the National Award in Painting from the Lalit Kala Akademi in 2005, apart from Ravi Jain Memorial Fellowship Award courtesy Dhoomimal Gallery, Delhi (2003); and National Finalist, Nokia Asia-Pacific Arts Award in 2000. Some of her residency/studio based programs are 'Identity and Masquerade', studio-based practice at Tate Modern, London, 'Khirkee Ki Khoj', a studio based project at Khoj Artists Organization, and a year-long residency and at Atelier 2221.

Apart from her recent show at Galerie Beck & Eggeling in 2011, the artist's other prominent exhibitions are ‘Urban Biomorphic’, Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre, Delhi; ‘The Second Sex: India’, Woman artist exhibition, 10 Chancery Lane Gallery, Hong kong; ‘The Way We Are’, Viart Gallery, Delhi; SH Contemporary 08’, Shanghai; ‘Emerging Directions’ by Apparao Galleries, Gorbio, France; ‘Beyond Boundaries’, The Gallery In Cork Street, Mayfair, London; ‘Live Wire’, Visual Arts Centre, Hong Kong; ‘World One Minutes’, Today Art Museum, Beijing; ‘Art Dubai’ (all in 2008).

Other important exhibits include ‘Identity and Masquerade’, The Photographers Gallery, London (2006-2007);‘India-Asia: Changing Paradigms’, Cologne, Germany (2005); ‘Path/ Progression/ Digressions’, Air Gallery, London (2005);‘Moving Image’ courtesy Royal Netherlands Embassy (2004); ‘Carry on Drawing’, Serpentine Gallery, London (2004); 47th National Exhibition of Art, LKA; AIFACS Platinum Jubilee show, Delhi (2003).