Field Review | Artist Interview Series
In conversation with
Mamta Malhotra
Mamta earned a degree in Architecture from the Chandigarh College of Architecture, graduating with a silver medal. She painted with Rameshwar Broota, Shobha Broota at the Triveni Kala Sangam and has an honours certificate from the Royal Drawing Society in London. She has done a residency at The Pottery Workshop in Jingdezhen, China.
Mamta is deeply interested in Indian history and culture, and her work reflects and explores their relevance in modern life.
Mamta has had two solo shows at the Open Palm Court, India Habitat Centre and one at the Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai. Her critically acclaimed work has also been exhibited at many group shows in India and abroad.
From:
India
Artist Statement
A way of life that goes back 2000 years and still feels alive. A time when life moved with the rhythm of the seasons. Man lived in symbiosis with the five elements and nature. This ancient land and culture which had been our home for many generations now seems threatened by the winds of time and the hand of humans. I paint this beautiful old city, the culture and values that respect the land and the rivers and teaches us to tread lightly on the planet and enjoy the wondrous beauties of nature.
Tell us about yourself and your artistic background.
Born in Mumbai, I grew up amidst the beautiful valleys, mountains and gardens in Kashmir, Poona, Gangtok and Bhutan. Myfather, an army engineer, drew and painted beautifully, and was a strong influence on me. Family vacations were in mountain cottages where, stocked with oil paints, easels and canvases, the family would paint their versions of the apple orchards, the beautiful Dal Lake, Shankaracharya and the Hari Parwat beyond.
In the beautiful city of Chandigarh, replete with tree-lined avenues of flaming Gulmohur, Amaltas and Jacaranda trees, I earned a degree in Architecture. I imbibed strong design influences from the Corbusier designed Chandigarh College of Architecture. Next, in Delhi, I painted and learnt sculpture with Rameshwar Broota, Shobha Broota and Pradip Saxena, at the Triveni Kala Sangam. I have done a residency at The Pottery Workshop in Jingdezhen, China.
How would you describe your artistic practice?
I have had two solo shows at the Open Palm Court Gallery at the India Habitat Centre,Delhi and a solo show at the Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai. My critically acclaimed work has also been exhibited at many group shows in India and abroad: prestigious shows at the Visual Arts Gallery, the Triveni Kala Sangam annual exhibition, Art Laureate Gallery at Lado Sarai, Gallery Espace Sorbonne 4 (Paris), at the New York Art Expo 2025, Indo Asean Art Camp at Jakarta, Indonesia, Palm Artspace Hanoi, and online collections such as Mojarto , Singulart and Saatchi art. My art has been featured in a New York Times bestseller coffee table book and the Harper Collins catalogue. In India, my work has been mentioned in Inside Outside, Design Today, Better Interiors, Femina, Spice Route, Navuthan magazine and a host of national magazines and newspapers. Recently the prestigious magazine India Today's 50th anniversary issue mentioned my practice in their artist's focus. Connoisseurs and collectors of her art span India, Dubai, France, Canada and the United States.
What themes or ideas are most important in your work?
Simplicity, harmony, integration with nature, and relevance to our cultural identity and heritage are the trademarks of my work. My concern for protecting the environment and retaining our rich cultural identity finds expression in my artistic voice, communicating a compelling story effectively.
What inspires your creative process?
I enjoy exploring the interplay of line, colour, form and texture through urban landscapes, figurative and abstract studies, using oil paint, acrylic, embroidery and mixed media. I sometime juxtapose Sanskrit shlokas that are rooted in the city that I paint, with the architectural idiom to create a new visual vocabulary. My true inspiration is drawn from Varanasi, a conglomeration of texture and colour. I intertwine colour and design to illuminate the spirit and culture of Benaras. The contrast of Varanasi’s urban fabric, rich culture, and timeless way of life rooted in nature, has inspired me to paint cityscapes highlighting the ephemeral beauty and fragility of Varanasi while evoking the intense vitality of an ancient and vibrant lifestyle.
Can you tell us about a recent artwork or project?
Recently I have been exploring the use of yarn and embroidery in my paintings, using my own skills learnt in childhood with my mother as well as using the wonderful local talent of tradional craftsmen in my city, in new and different ways.
What challenges have influenced your development as an artist?
A woman artist, trained as an architect, living in a small city, with a small social network does not have an easy time finding the kind of exposure and connections to grow an artistic practice. This was a challenge in the early years buy it gave me enough isolation to develop a visual vocabulary and style that was very personal. Later with the growth of the internet and social media these constraints were removed and I could reach an connect with the world !
What role does art play in your life today?
Art is basically the focus and centre of my mental existance. It enriches my life , teaching me to look at humanity and nature with softer, kinder eyes and a richer perspective to find beauty in almost everything that nature has bestowed upon us.
What are you currently working on?
I tend to work on many projects simultaneously, an oil painting of my city's beautiful waterfront, and an abstract in acrylic, exploring colour, texture and transparency. I also have a sketchbook where I experiment with my new inks and pens on paper. Each work supports my creativity in different ways and keeps the mind curious and explorative.
What are your future goals as an artist?
My goal is to keep constantly keep creating new and engaging work . To become better and better at expressing my dreams and feelings on canvas and art and being able to connect my viewers and patrons to my paintings. I have been fortunate to be able to take my art to different countries and platforms across the world , and see how people react and feel with my paintings, it is truly gratifying. I hope I can stay on this journey for a long time and keep my art rooted in nature, memory and the cultural depth built over centuries.
Where can readers follow your work?
On social media my work can be found on Instagram @mamtamalhotrafineart, on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/mamtamalhotrafineart and on my website mamtamalhotra.com.
