Varunika Saraf

Varunika Saraf
Varunika Saraf in her studio
Born	1981 Nagpur, Maharashtra, India
Nationality	Indian
Alma mater	Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University
Known for	Painting Embroidery Miniature Art
Notable work	We, the People: Tracing the country’s history through embroidery
Website	varunikasaraf.com

Varunika Saraf (born 19 December 1981, in Nagpur, Maharashtra) and now based in Hyderabad ^[1] is an Indian contemporary painter who seeks to bare the reality of violence often drawing attention historical and political realities and injustices in India. ^[2]

Art practice

Saraf's main material is Wasli, an ancient Indian paper for detailed painting and hand-ground pigments made in her studio. ^[3] The artist employs color as a form of abstraction to attract viewers to the complex details within often massive scale paintings. She also uses miniature art, embroidery, ^[4]

Exhibitions

Saraf is represented by Chemould Prescott Road, Mumbai where she had a solo exhibition in 2021. ^[5] Her work has been presented at Art Basel (Basel and Hong Kong), Art Dubai and India Art Fair. She has been a part of several solo ^[6] and group exhibitions ^[7] in India and abroad. ^[8]

Public collections

Varunika Saraf's works are a part of the collections ^[9] at KNMA, New Delhi; Chemould Prescott Road, Mumbai; Kasturbhai Lalbhai Museum and Sarmaya Foundation. ^[10]

Awards and Honors

Saraf received an Mention from the Sharjah Biennial Prize ^[11] jury for her series ‘We, The People’ which was a part of the Sharjah Biennale 15 Thinking Historically in the Present. She was also awarded the Asia Society Gamechanger Award (Asia Arts Future Award), 2023, ^[12] Kashi Award for Visual Arts (KAVA2), 2006 and Shri. SL Parasher Gold Medal, University of Hyderabad, 2006.^{[ citation needed ]}

References

1. Thatipalli, Mallik (22 March 2024). "Young artists make a mark". Deccan Chronicle .
2. Fernando, Benita (10 December 2021). ""Political art by artist Varunika Saraf attempts to spell out the current times through images"". Indian Express .
3. Ayaz, Shaikh (27 January 2024). "Into the artist's studio: For Varunika Saraf, the studio is a place of record". Mint Lounge .
4. "26 South Asian artists explore shared histories and resilience in landmark London exhibition". Architect and Interiors India. 3 April 2025. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
5. "Varunika Saraf". Chemould Prescott Road. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
6. Dundoo, Sangeetha Devi (8 March 2017). ""The miniaturist"". The Hindu .
7. Singh, Deepali (21 April 2021). ""Indian artists to shine at the Sharjah Biennial 2023"". Mint Lounge .
8. Devi Dundoo, Sangeetha (17 June 2020). "Hyderabad artist Varunika Saraf to showcase her work at Heidelberger Kunstverein". The Hindu .
9. Gupta, Trisha (16 May 2022). ""India Art Fair: Letting the art in"". India Today .
10. "Homepage | Kasturbhai Lalbhai Museum". kasturbhailalbhaimuseum.com. Retrieved 13 May 2025.
11. ""Sharjah Biennial 15 Announces Prize Winners"". Art Asia Pacific . 17 February 2023.
12. Paul, Chokita (17 March 2023). "Varunika Saraf: 'For the women before me, and after'". Indian Express .

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