Michelle Poonawala

Michelle Poonawalla is an artist who lives and works between London, UK, and Pune, India. Her works explore universal, socially engaged topics that resonate with a diverse range of audiences, creating powerful memories and moving experiences. Her practice combines cutting-edge technology and traditional artistic mediums in an emotionally charged and poetic form; often utilising sound, video mapping, projection, motion sensors and other techniques to bring her innovative paintings and installations to life. Her piece, Introspection (2018), is a striking, immersive experiential artwork which leaves many viewers moved and affected, whilst inspiring them to take action in their own lives. The work has been exhibited at the Saatchi Gallery, London; Alserkal Avenue, Dubai Art Week, and the Kochi- Muziris Biennale. Poonawalla has recently begun exploring work with shorter digital format films. Her 3min 36 second film Circle of Life addresses the idea of memory and is exhibited at the 7th Mediations Biennale in Poland. Other digital works can be seen on SedtionArt.com and at the World Art Dubai, 2020. Poonawalla is also actively involved in work supporting important causes in the environment and gender spaces. Recent projects have included Masks d’Art - a charitable initiative by Art for Concern to raise money for Covid-19 relief funds; Make Art for Mumbai's Mangroves - a campaign that invited artists to help amplify the message of preserving Mumbai’s precious wetlands; Breakthrough - a charity working to stop discrimination and violence towards women and girls; and her work Monsoon Magic was presented to HiIs Royal Highness Prince Charles when her Elephant Sculpture shown as part of Elephant Parade in Jaipur and Mumbai in 2017.