Personal Profile
POOJA BAHRI
Born 1974, New Delhi, India
Lives and works in United Kingdom & India
Education:
MFA, Arts University Bournemouth, UK
BA (Hons) English, Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi
Interested in the ambiguity of gender and social boundaries, the shifting context of rural and urban environments, and the fragility of private versus public gaze and space, Pooja further explores the intriguing conundrum that seems to confront the world today that emerges in her research and studio practice. Selecting the media and process according to the theme, her practice is material agnostic. What she employs is entirely dependent on the idea that needs execution, and in that, it could well be through installations, sketching, painting, videos, performance, digital printing, and staining…at the core, it is experimentation with more material to create an alternate dimension, and yet communicate to a larger audience.
Pooja Bahri is particularly interested in collaborative community practice and research-oriented writing about her work and developing an actionable project. Her works contribute to opening a public discourse on issues concerning the natural environment and socio-political dialogues. Compelling the audience to interact with the artworks, she wants through her projects to question the parameters of contemporary art in the digitized, post-industrial landscape.
Professional Practice
2018 - present
Champa Tree Art Gallery is a dynamic and immersive art space that showcases exceptional artwork by talented artists worldwide, providing a curated collection that is accessible, affordable, and enjoyed by art enthusiasts globally. Established in 2018, the gallery is rapidly gaining recognition to prominence as a premier destination for art lovers, collectors, and artists alike.
2016 - present
Co-founding a creative space run by practising professionals was inspired by my passion for pedagogy and curriculum development in visual arts. Our team conducts short courses at top schools and colleges, guiding students on portfolio development and providing career counselling in the arts. The aim is to encourage the uninitiated to explore the practice of visual art and design. With over 1000 hours of workshop time, The Create Studio has also served large corporations like Google, John Lewis and IBM along with various private institutions.
2016-2020
Spokesperson,
Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee
Chairperson,
Delhi Congress Research Department
While heading the political research in New Delhi, I was invited as a Sherpa to a develop a manifesto for art and cultural heritage for the Indian National Congress, a leading political party in the country. The assignment required extensive research in history and anthropology, as well as benchmarking global best practices.
2010 - present
Since its inception, Arts4All has grown to house emerging artists in its residency programs, conceptualizing and executing public art projects, conducting art workshops, and curating exhibitions. It believes in fostering interactions between artists, curators, scholars, writers, and young students through its initiatives. It invites mentors, and funds emerging artists from various regions and genres, to create and exhibit their work and help strengthen their careers. Through digital technology, residencies, public art projects, and educational initiatives, the Trust brings the rural to the urban and metro to the roots; thereby helping bridge the gap amongst the artists for creative networking and self-sustainance.
Publication
2020 Aisi Hogi Humari Dilli, Research head, co-editor and design head, Delhi Congress Committee
Manifesto for Assembly elections
2019 Congress will Deliver, Sherpa, Indian National Congress Lok Sabha Election
Manifesto for Art, Culture, Heritage and Environment and Climate Change
2017 100 days of BJP in Municipal Corporation of Delhi, A poll khol campaign by Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee, Research head, co-editor and press in charge
Selected Art Camps & Residencies
2024 SIM Artist Residency, Iceland
2023 Skaftell Artist Residency, Iceland
2015 Global Nomadic Art Project, Nature Camp, Vadodara, India
2014 Magam New, Nature Art Camp, S. Korea
2012 Bangla-Indo Art Camp, Bangladesh and Cross-Over exhibition, New Delhi
2011 Ceangal Art Camp, Gairloch, Scotland
Marve Art Camp, Mumbai
Awards 2011
VIII Biennale International dell’arte Contemporanea Di Firenze
Gold Medal Winner – Video Art category
Fellowship - ongoing
TAAS Fellow Art & Gender, Fall 2023
Co-curation | Advisory
2020 Scars of Scarcity, Arts4All, New Delhi
2017 Nature Connect, Hungarian Cultural Centre & Arts4All, New Delhi
2013 Batting for Art, A travelling exhibition in support of Arts4All with Delhi Daredevils, Indian Premier League
Solo Shows
2013 Blow Horn, Chawla Art Gallery, Delhi
2012 Blow Horn, New Art Center, New York
2011 Kalakriti Gallery, Hyderabad
2010 Art Chutney Gallery, Bangalore
2007 Chawla Art Gallery, New Delhi
2003 Chawla Art Gallery, New Delhi
Select Group Shows
2022 Time Perspectives, BUMF Gallery, Arts University Bournemouth
I Keep Smelling Fire, Video and NFT, India Art Fair, New Delhi
2020 Monsoon 2020, group show with Champatree, New Delhi
2017 Nature Connect, Hungarian Cultural Centre, New Delhi
2016 Forms of Devotion, Conde Duque, Madrid | Casa de la India, Valladolid, Spain
2015 And Still I Rise, The Instituto Cervantes, New Delhi
Global Nomadic Art Project, Nature Camp, Vadodara
India Yoga Chakra, Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi
Forms of Devotion, Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi | China Art Museum, Shanghai
2012 India Art Fair, Kalakriti Gallery, Hyderabad, sculpture and video lounge
2010 Dotted by Intervention, Oblong Gallery, London
Savera Foundation Art show, New Delhi
Video Screenings, Delhi International Arts Festival
2008 Ki Art Gallery, Kuala Lumpur
Stuart Art Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa
Khushi Foundation Art Show, Bangalore | Mumbai
2007 Florence Biennale
2006 Harmony Show, Mumbai
2005 The Artist and Her Muse, Pooja Bahri and Paresh Maity, New Delhi
2004 Art for Vision, Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi