Hussain’s Horses

A brilliant colourist, Nayanaa Kanodia can be considered to be the pioneer of   the genre of   L’Art Naif in India. She has held innumerable shows in India and abroad. Her paintings are in the collection of major art collectors and corporate houses all over the world .Musee  International  D’Naif Art in Paris permanently displays her paintings. She has exhibited and demonstrated her painting techniques in   Victoria and Albert Museum in London. She has been featured in an international publication  Women in Art by Reinhard Fuchs, a rare honour  for any Indian artist. She was chosen from all the artists of The Commonwealth Countries to have a solo show in their newly renovated complex in London .Impressed with the social messages   being conveyed in her paintings, a consortium of schools in Los Altos, U.S.A. is using her  work as a medium of instruction to their students. She was honoured with an award from Megh  Mandal  Sansthan, Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India. She is associated with many charitable societies,  gives  talks and conducts workshops and presentations    on art in various organizations and universities. She is also a judge in art competitions. She has attended Art Camps in India, London, Sweden, Italy, Moscow, Greece,   Bangkok   and Cambodia. Her work is characterised   by the air of whimsy, flat bright polished surfaces and the extraordinary plethora of intricately worked   details and   patterns. She has portrayed India’s culture –Past and Present- as no artist has done before on such a huge time frame. This will be a record for generations to come .Her work contains the most important social messages of our lives. Nayanaa says “My paintings intend to make you feel that you are watching a snapshot of life at maximum preposterousness , exuberant and bursting with energy, idiosyncrasy  and absurdity .The conversation I hope to create in my work is a certain truth of life and on a deeper level, a well thought philosophy. Individuals may interpret my paintings in vastly disparate ways and each view will be equally logical and plausible, thought provoking   and intriguing.”

Nayanaa Kanodia grew up in Delhi, graduating from Lady Shri Ram College, in Economics Honours and winning the National Scholarship of the Government of India. An Economist turned painter, Nayanaa is entirely a self-taught artist working in L' art Naif, except for a year's apprenticeship with Anjolie Ela Menon.

Since 1986,More than 36 solo shows in India and abroad.

Since 1988,More than 150 group shows worldwide.

She has exhibited widely in India and abroad, in solo and group shows, especially in museums and art galleries in London and Paris. In 1998, she was selected by The Commonwealth Institute, to hold a solo show in their newly renovated complex in London. In 2001she was invited by the Victoria and Albert Museum, UK to exhibit her work and to give a demonstration of her technique. She has also conducted several art workshops and participated in camps in various parts on India and overseas.

Nayanaa’s work is held in many public and private collections in India and abroad including Museums. She lives in Mumbai.