In the world of fine-art, where the boundaries of imagination and personal expression blend, there are trailblazers who defy traditional conventions and harness their influence to spark profound change.
Radhika Gupta-Buckley is a Delhi Raised, New York City- based Indian artist with specialization in painting works on race and identity with bold patterns and saturated colors. Although art has always been apart of her life, Radhika’s early career journey veered onto a different path.
Inspired by her lawyer Grandfather, Radhika embarked on her legal journey at the University of Oxford, where she forged a path to champion her cause within esteemed institutions like the Supreme Court of India and the United Nations in The Hague. Immersed in the realm of law, Radhika believed she had found her true calling, driven by an ardent desire to combat the systemic challenges that plagued society.
However, Radhika eventually found solace in art as a way to bring about change and address social injustices. Frustrated by the bureaucratic barriers in her legal practice, she sought refuge in her canvas, using her art to inform, educate, and enlighten on cultural issues such as equality, gender bias, sexuality, race, and prejudice.
She notes, ”In the broadest sense, I am inspired by the beauty of India. More personally and on a visceral level, resolving the various contradicting parts of my personality or sometimes egging them on really inspires me. There’s always been an internal tug of war, the more reserved creative against the version pushing my boundaries to claim the things I like aloud without the fear of judgment. When you put your art out into the world, a certain nakedness is required, and I’m still adjusting to it. As I learn to be more fearless, I adopt a more vulnerable and overt way of interacting with the world, which shows in my work. Earnestness is a privilege and something to work towards, and I’m constantly striving to achieve that in my art.”
“Being part of a family of art collectors, my deep fascination with art blossomed early on,” she reveals. “Creativity and a profound aesthetic sensibility have always been inherent to me. I began painting at around six years old, and it remained an enduring pursuit throughout my life. Constant voyages and exposure to diverse cultures granted me the opportunity to explore novel concepts and influences, transforming my art into a clandestine language for self-expression.”
Her first exhibition in 2017, inaugurated by the Cultural Minister of India featured over 30 pieces and garnered an overwhelmingly positive response. Since then she has had her first solo show at IV Gallery in Los Angeles in 2021 and has been featured in Art Basel Miami.
Through her latest collection “Technicolor Dream”, she is able to continue her Indian-inspired story that she calls, “a balance between seduction and informed debate”. In “Technicolor Dream,” Gupta expertly blends a myriad of vivid hues, forming a tapestry of harmonious tones that ignite the senses. The artwork pulsates with an energy that evokes joy, wonder, and a sense of childlike enchantment along with Radhika’s usual representations of Indian women.
“My work is all about bringing beauty and joy into the world, especially in today’s times.”, Radhika shares.
Driven by her passion for empowering women who have long been silenced and overlooked, shares her vision for her art career: “I strive to become India’s preeminent living female artist, celebrated for my work that both uplifts and advocates for the voices of women. Through my art, I aim to shed light on their stories and amplify their presence in the world.”
For more of Radhika, check out her website, radhikagupta.art or view her solo show at Band of Vices in Los Angeles beginning Sept 23, 2023.
