Shanthamani Muddaiah

(b. 1967, Mysore)

Shanthamani Muddaiah completed her BFA in Painting from Chamarajendra Academy of Visual Arts, Mysore (1989), and her MFA in Painting from Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda (1991). In 2004, she pursued a paper-making course in Glasgow, Scotland, under The Charles Wallace Scholarship. Muddaiah received both Junior and Senior Research Grants from the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Government of India, during 2006–08 and 2014–16. In 2017, she participated in an artist residency program at Cité des Arts, France, and in 2019, she led a community project in Settle, Yorkshire, UK.

Muddaiah roots her work in the metaphorical and material significance of charcoal, an ancient medium she uses to symbolise the transition from life to ash. She explores the fragility of large infrastructures like nature and the economy through charcoal, questioning notions of permanence. Her art reflects the delicate balance of urban existence and the vulnerability of the things we value most. Through the scale and materiality of her work, she addresses deeper connections to nature, power, and development, inviting dialogue and challenging perceptions.

She has exhibited at significant biennales, museums, and art exhibitions in India and internationally. Her recent exhibitions include Drawing Now Art Fair with Suzanne Tarasieve Gallery, Paris (2023); ‘Visible Invisible’, Museum of Art & Photography, Bangalore (2022); ‘APER – A Cross-Culture Voice’, KunstCentret Silkeborg Bad, Denmark, and Ahmedabad (2021), among others. Her works are in public and private collections worldwide. Her public monumental sculptures contribute to the cultural landscape of Bangalore, with her most recent work set for installation at the new terminal of Bangalore International Airport.

Muddaiah lives and works in Bangalore, India.