As a student of Portraiture, it became evident for her that the entire body serves to narrate experiences and expressions of existence. Her works are figurative representations of herself and the people she has encountered. She cites “. My works are personal observations concerned with identity formation and crisis. Identities are formed as a result of past experiences and memories. They shape who we are and the identity or roles we play. These roles keep changing and evolving with time as does our identity.

 

The figures in my paintings reflect the intrinsic need to protect individuality in a society full of adopted identities. Clad in beautiful clothing, questioning ‘who they really are’ beneath it all, they wait in a contemplative, self-introspective silence listening for an answer. The medium I work in is oil painting and the surface used is linen canvas. The application and execution of my paintings are a blend of traditional oil painting in combination with superimposed collagraphy. I constantly experiment with different mediums, compositions, diverse ways of execution that visually and conceptually support my intended expressions “. 

 

Born and brought up in Mumbai, Nilisha completed her Bachelors in Fine Art (B.F.A) in 2018 and Masters (M.F.A) in 2020 specializing in Portraiture from Sir J.J. School of Art, Mumbai. 

 

Key milestones achieved are: 

• The Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Grant (Canada), 2021 and 2024. 

• Prafulla Dahanukar Foundation Grant-2021 

• Shrishti AIF Grant- 2020 

• Young Artist Scholarship under Centre for Cultural Resource Training (CCRT), Ministry of Culture, Govt of India- 2019