Kanan The Art Space

Jury

Dr. Shanta Samanta

Sculpture

Shanta Samanta Sarvaiya is a sculptor and Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Fine Arts, M.S. University of Baroda, where she completed her BFA and MFA in Creative Sculpture. A recipient of the National Cultural Scholarship and Lalit Kala Akademi Scholarship, she has received several awards including the AIFACS Award (1998) and Gujarat State Lalit Kala Akademi Awards (1999, 2002). Her bronze sculptures, recognised for their emotive patination and celebration of womanhood or nari shakti, depict a journey from childhood to womanhood, filled with innocence, passion, and cultural richness. She has held solo exhibitions across Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Vadodara, and participated in major art fairs in India, Dubai, and Singapore. Her works are part of collections both in India and internationally.
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Nehal J. Rachh

Mural

Nehal J Rachh is a multidisciplinary visual artist based in Vadodara, primarily working with ceramics. A Fine Arts graduate from M.S. University, Baroda, she further trained at Golden Bridge Pottery, Pondicherry, and has spent over two decades exploring the expressive potential of clay. Her practice, deeply inspired by nature, reflects a symbiotic connection with the earth and celebrates its healing power. She has participated in several artist residencies in France, the U.K., and Bangalore, enriching her artistic journey. A recipient of both Senior and Junior Fellowships from the Ministry of Culture, her work encompasses solo and group exhibitions in India and abroad, as well as collaborative projects and academic engagements.
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Devanshi Asher

Photography

Devanshi Asher is an Indian lens-based documentary practitioner and interdisciplinary storyteller now based in London. She holds a BA in Filmmaking from Srishti Institute of Art, Design and Technology, Bangalore, and earned an MA with distinction in Documentary Photography and Photojournalism from the University of the Arts London. Asher’s practice focuses on visual narratives around climate justice, gender, and cultural preservation, grounding her work in collaboration, care, and social impact. For over seven years, she has produced more than 25 short films, facilitated participatory workshops for rural Indian children, and worked as a creative consultant in the non-profit sector. Her storytelling, deeply influenced by her time in the Himalayas, highlights community-centred development while fostering dialogue and shared memory.
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Heeral Trivedi

Painting

Heeral Trivedi is a painter born in Mumbai and an alumnus of M.S. University, earning her Bachelor's in 1995 and her Master's in 1997. She began her artistic journey in 1996 with her debut solo show, "Staircase full of dreams," at Prithvi Gallery in Mumbai. Primarily a painter, she also explores other media, creating layered mixed-media works in her Baroda studio inspired by literature, poetry, and children's stories. Trivedi has participated in over 10 solo exhibitions, including her recent show "The Magic Thread" in Mumbai, and has displayed her work both nationally and internationally. In addition to her own art, she has curated exhibitions like "Selves in Parallax" at Apre Art House, Mumbai, continually expanding her artistic practice through literary influences and studying master artists.

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