ANJOLIE ELA MENON
Akara Modern
1940
Born to mixed Bengali and American parentage, Anjolie Ela Menon is a
popular contemporary artist. She received her art education from the Sir J.J.
School of Art, Mumbai, followed by a degree in English Literature from Delhi
University.
In the late 1950s, a teenage Menon held solo exhibitions in Mumbai,
which got her a French Government scholarship to study Fresco at the École des
Beaux-Arts, Paris. Before her return to India, she travelled through Europe and
Asia to study Romanesque and Byzantine art. Menon works primarily in oil and
masonite, although she has also explored other media like watercolour and
glass. Her works often reflect the sensibilities and the predicament of Indian
women. The recurring motif of the crow in Menon’s paintings is a nostalgic
reference to the only company she had when she lived in Mumbai, spending her
days painting in isolation. She respectfully acknowledges many influences and
inspirations, including Van Gogh, the Italian artist Modigliani, Amrita Sher-Gil,
and her mentor, M. F. Husain. She is best known for her vibrant and colourful
religious-themed works, portraits, and nudes. She is also a well-known
muralist.
Her first solo exhibition was held at 71 Lodhi Estate, New Delhi in
1958, followed by solo exhibitions at
Blackheath Gallery, UK, 1965;
Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, 1971; Chemould Gallery, Mumbai, 1974
& 1976; Taj Gallery Mumbai, 1983; Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai, 1984;
Winston Gallery, Washington, 1984; National Gallery of Modern Art, Mumbai,
2005; Aicon Gallery, New York, 2006; and Asian Art Museum, San Francisco, 2006
among others.
Menon was awarded The Padma Shri by the Government of India in
2000. Her work has been acquired by
several museums including the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi; Lalit
Kala Akademi, New Delhi; Benjamin Gray Museum; Peabody Essex Museum; Asian Art
Museum, San Francisco; and Fukuoka Museum, Japan.
The artist lives and works in New Delhi.
Images
Exhibitions
Follow Unfollow August 26 - September 17 , 2022
The Idolized Muses June 25 - July 31 , 2021
Divine Intervention September 08 - October 28 , 2017
Press
Art Walks Mumbai, September 16 2017
