Ranjani Shettar is an acclaimed Indian contemporary sculptor known for her innovative and intricate installations that explore the relationship between nature, culture, and materiality. Born in 1977 in Bangalore, India, Shettar received her BFA in sculpture from the Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath in Bangalore and later completed her MFA at the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston. Her artistic practice is deeply rooted in the traditional craftsmanship of her native India, often employing natural materials such as wood, beeswax, and organic dyes to create delicate, ethereal forms that evoke the natural world. Shettar's sculptures are characterized by their intricate, lace-like structures and organic shapes, which seem to defy gravity and blur the boundaries between art and environment. Her works often engage with themes of transformation, impermanence, and the interconnectedness of all living things, drawing inspiration from the rich cultural heritage of India as well as contemporary global concerns. Shettar's installations have been exhibited widely in prestigious institutions around the world, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, cementing her status as one of the most significant contemporary sculptors of her generation.
Indian contemporary sculptor, installations, nature, culture, materiality, traditional craftsmanship, organic materials, ethereal forms, transformation, impermanence
Ranjani Shettar is a highly regarded Indian artist, known for her ability to merge traditional materials with modern media in her large-scale installations and sculptures. Born in Yelandur, Karnataka, Shettar is a self-taught artist who has gained international recognition for her unique approach to art-making. Her works are known for exploring themes of time, memory, and identity, and often incorporate natural materials such as jute, paper, and stone. Shettar's installations are characterized by their ability to transform the space in which they are installed, creating immersive environments that engage the viewer's senses. Her works often incorporate elements of nature, such as leaves, flowers, and branches, which she weaves into intricate and delicate forms. Shettar's sculptures, on the other hand, are more solid and substantial, yet retain a sense of lightness and fluidity. One of Shettar's most notable works is Seven ponds and a few raindrops (2013), which was exhibited at the Talwar Gallery in New York. The installation consisted of a series of suspended sculptures made from hand-dyed muslin and beeswax, which were arranged to create the impression of a floating landscape. Another significant work is Me, no, not me, buy me, eat me, wear me, have me, love me (2008), which was exhibited at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. The installation consisted of a series of suspended sculptures made from hand-carved wood and brightly colored pigments, which were arranged to create the impression of a swirling vortex. Shettar's works have been exhibited in numerous galleries and museums around the world, including the Guggenheim Museum in New York, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo. She has received several awards and honors for her contributions to the field of contemporary art, including the prestigious DAAD residency in Berlin.
Ranjani Shettar, Indian artist, installations, sculptures, traditional materials, modern media, time, memory, identity, natural materials, immersive environments, nature, delicate forms, solid sculptures, floating landscape, suspended sculptures, swirling
Ranjani Shettar is an acclaimed Indian artist known for her large-scale installations and sculptures. Born in Yelandur, Karnataka, Ranjani is a self-taught artist who merges traditional materials with modern media. Shettar uses natural materials like jute, paper, and stone to create artworks that explore themes of time, memory, and identity. A few of her major works include Gita Vatika (2015), which was installed in the National Gallery of Modern Art in Bengaluru, and Women from the Garden (2013), displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. In addition, her installation Confluence (2017) was featured in the Kochi-Muziris Biennale. Ranjani Shettar's works are in the collections of multiple national and international art museums and galleries.
Ranjani Shettar, Indian artist, Yelandur, Karnataka, jute, paper, stone, Gita Vatika, National Gallery of Modern Art, Bengaluru, Women from the Garden, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Confluence, Kochi-Muziris Biennale, art museums, galleries.
— Mei Wang
CITATION : "Mei Wang. 'Ranjani Shettar.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/?E=201292 (Accessed on July 03, 2025)"
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