Devayani Krishna

Acquired directly from the artist, Surya Galerie, Freinsheim

Once described by esteemed art critic Richard Bartholomew as ‘India’s foremost woman artist’ of the day, Devayani Krishna boasts a varied and accomplished body of work and a host of important solo and group shows across India and Europe (R. Bartholomew, Courtesy Surya Archives). She graduated from the Sir J J School of Art Bombay in 1940 and two years later married fellow artist Kanwal Krishna. Together they travelled widely through the remote regions of the Himalayas, living in Sikkim on the Tibetan border for over three years. In 1974, Devayani reflected, “I got deeply interested in the spiritual and mystic qualities in the art forms of those regions.” (Devayani Krishna, Exhibition pamphlet, “Bom Bom Bhole” series, an exhibition of mystic graphics by Devayani Krishna, Gallery Chanakya, New Delhi, 1974) After returning from her travels, Devayani began teaching at the Modern School, New Delhi. She went on to become the Head of the Art Department, retiring in 1977.