Self
Sharmistha Ray is a Mumbai and New York-based artist, writer and curator. She received her BA, Art from Williams College, Mass. and dual degree MS/MFA, History of Art & Design/Painting from Pratt Institute, NY.
She completed a short internship with the artist Jenny Holzer in Hoosick Falls, NY in 2000, and between 2006 and 2016, she held various positions in the art world: Bodhi Art (Managing Director, 2006-10); Hauser & Wirth (Sales Director, Asia, 2011); Art Basel (VIP Representative, India, 2012-13) and Kochi Biennale Foundation (Fundraising Consultant, 2015-16).
Since 2012, she has focused primarily on her artistic practice, broadening the range of her material practice from painting to include a diverse set of media including light installations, drawing, metal work and sculptures. Her work deals with personal identity, migration and intimacy in the digital age.
Her solo exhibitions include hidden geographies at Galerie Mirchandani + Steinruecke, Mumbai (2012); Reflections + Transformations at Aicon, NY (2013); Sweet Surrender: Studies in Abstraction at Galerie Steph, Singapore (2014) and we are all islands at Nine Fish Art Gallery, Mumbai (2016) which travelled to Mill Hall, Kochi (2017) during the 3rd edition of the Kochi-Muziris Biennale.
She is the recipient of the Joan Mitchell MFA Grant (2004), TED Fellowship (2009), Montblanc Young Artist World Patronage Award (2012) and was nominated for the Civitella Ranieri Fellowship for Visual Arts (2014).
Since 2014, Ray has run Bellevue Salons, a popular salon programme in Mumbai that cross-pollinates art, culture and social justice. She is a regular contributor on art for the India editions of Vogue and Elle.
Education
2001-2005 Dual degree: M.S. History of Art & Design/M.F.A. Painting, Pratt Institute, New York
1997-2001 B.A. Art, Williams College, Williamstown, Mass. (cum laude)
Solo exhibitions and projects
we are all islands 2, Mill Hall, Kochi, India
we are all islands, Nine Fish Art Gallery, Mumbai, India
On the Seashore of Endless Worlds, Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, Mumbai, India
Sweet Surrender: Studies in Abstraction, Galerie Steph, Singapore
Reflections + Transformations, Aicon Gallery, New York, USA
hidden geographies, Galerie Mirchandani + Steinruecke, Mumbai, India
Crossroads, M.F.A. Thesis Exhibition, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York, USA
Queer Series, Wilde Gallery, Williams College, Williamstown, USA
Group exhibitions
Studio Picks, The Loft at Lower Parel. Mumbai, India
Art for Concern Annual Charity Exhibition & Auction, Mumbai, India
Sparsh/Tactile, Kala Ghoda Arts Festival, Mumbai, India
The 377191 Wall: A New Window to Understanding, Gallery Beyond, Mumbai, India
Reviving the Retinal, Gallery OED, Kochi, India. Curated by Dr. Kathleen Wyma
India Art Fair, 7th Edition, New Delhi, India
Cursory Glances, Curated by WAA, Palladium Mall, Mumbai, India
Asia Contemporary Art Show, Hong Kong
Noir/Blanc, The Loft at Lower Parel, Mumbai, India
Touched by Bhupen, Galerie Mirchandani + Steinruecke, Mumbai, India
Vikhroli Skins, an initiative by Godrej India Culture Lab, Mumbai, India
OUT/OFF: Out of the gallery and off the walls, Chameleon Art Projects, Mumbai, India
India Art Fair, 5th Edition, New Delhi, India
Open Studios, Space 118, Mumbai, India
Museum of Memories, Godrej India Culture Lab, Mumbai, India
Mumbai Galleries Weekend, sponsored by Citibank, Mumbai, India
Hope for Haiti-India Cares, Grand Hyatt, Mumbai, India
In-si-der, Bodhi Art, Mumbai, India. Curated by Sonal Singh and Brinda Kumar
Joan Mitchell M.F.A. Grant Recipients, CUE Art Foundation, New York, USA
Territories, Aicon Gallery, New York, USA. Curated by South Asian Women’s Creative Collective
CAC Juried Exhibition, Contemporary Artists Center, North Adams, USA. Jurors: Mike Glier and Jenny Holzer
Explorations/Innovations, Kingsborough Community College, New York, USA
2004 Annual Pratt MFA Exhibition, Pratt Manhattan Gallery, New York, USA
Grand Group Show, Danny Simmons Corridor Gallery, Brooklyn, New York, USA
Drawing Show, Parsons Institute, New York, USA
MFAs Colliding, New York University, New York, USA
Extreme Existence, Schafler Gallery, Pratt Institute, New York, USA
9/11: Artists Respond, Schafler Gallery, Pratt Institute, New York, USA
B.A. Thesis Exhibition, Williams College Museum of Art, Williamstown, USA
Berkshire Artisans Association Juried Show, Lichtenstein Art Center, Pittsfield, USA
Awards and recognition
Civitella Ranieri Fellowship, Visual Arts, Nominee, Italy
L’Oreal Paris Femina Women Awards, Nominee, Artist of the Year, India
Montblanc Young Artist World Patronage Award, Germany
TED Fellowship, USA
Pratt Circle Award for Outstanding Academic Achievement, Pratt Institute, USA
Certificate of Excellence Award for Outstanding Merit in Graduate Fine Arts, Pratt Institute, USA
Certificate of Excellence Award for Outstanding Merit in Graduate Art History, Pratt Institute, USA
Joan Mitchell M.F.A. Grant, $10,000 Cash Award, USA
cum laude, Dean’s List (four times), Williams College, USA
Berkshire Artisans Association Fellowship, USA
Class 1960 Scholars in Art, Williams College, USA
BiGLaTA Fellowship, $2,500 Cash Award, Williams College, USA