top of page

Jemisha Maadhavji is a figurative painter who explores  individuals from different cultural backgrounds, personalities and gender, through symbolism and narrative. Her work follows a  poetic journey  where she is in search for beauty.  Maadhavji's subject matters are a result of a  huge influence in bold colours and patterned fabric. The subjects often have a personal connection with the clothing due to their culture, profession or solely  because of their personality. 

 

Maadhavji  quotes :"We all think of ourselves as icons in some shape or form, especially in the time of smart phones, social media like Instagram and Facebook  Its become very easy and instant to do so.  We always feel like we want to look like a certain celebrity, by taking selfies and constantly posting on social media. But when do we appreciate our own selves, who we are as individuals? .  

I am not interested in painting people that everybody knows i.e people that are famous :''I am interested in people that are unknown to me, to the world."

 

"I don't really think about the likeness when I’m painting them, its just a process of discovering who they are and how I see them, what they mean to me. This is what  painting does discovering the subject through paint and that’s what I feel I’m doing when I am painting my subjects."

Maadhavji's  paintings are initially based on photographs of young men and  women . She is interested in capturing the character and emotion.

 

The work is created with oil paints on a range of surfaces, ranging from wood, canvas, paper and metal. The paintings are created in thin delicate layers of oil paint. Recent discoveries which the artist shows is her latest  Painting on metal; it  allows her to create the smallest detail with precision due to its smooth and shiny surface. Most interestingly the colours are a lot more luminous especially when natural light shines on the painting. 

 

Maadhavji's interests with natural objects such as the Rose and Peacock feathers are influenced by her research into: "what beauty means now?"  Is it make up, artificiality or natural? 

The Rose represents beauty, cycle of life and death and cycle of time.  The Peacock feather represents immortality.


 
Education


2020-2022    MA Fine Art, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK 
 
2015-2018.   BA (Hons) Fine Art, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK

2014-2015    BTEC Diploma, Art and Design Foundation, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK


Solo Exhibitions 

2023        'My Celebrities' Nottingham Castle Museum, Nottingham 25th June- 29th October 


2021        'Desires Never Desire', Online Exhibition and curation  

2019       'My Celebrities', Toru Namekwa' Artist Residency,   StudionAme, Leicester, England



Selected Group Exhibitions

2022

 

BOSS X Diet Paratha 2023, Flagship store 178 Regent Street London

Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2022 South London Gallery, London 

 
Bloomberg New Contemporaries 2022 Ferens Art Gallery, Humber Street Gallery, Hull, England
 
'The 2022 Exhibition' Contemporary British Portrait Painters, At The Department Store, Brixton, London, England

UK New Artist City Takeover, John Lewis Window Display Exhibition, Leicester, England 
 
2020

Contemporary British Portrait Painters (CBPP) - 'Perceptions',  Cass Art Islington, London, England

The Other Art Fair, 'London Futures' ,King's Cross, London, England

 
'Toru Namekwa' Artist Residency at StudionAme, Leicester, England
 
2019

'Open Call 2019 Winners Exhibition', Delphian Gallery, London, England

FBA Futures 2019, Mall Galleries London, England  

The Anti Art Fair ' with Creative Debuts, England 


 
2018

Degree Show, De Montfort University, Leicester, England 

 Figurative Art Today, Columbia Threadneedle Prize Award, Mall Galleries, London, England

 
Talks, Collaborations and Events


2022       Tate Modern, Artist Talk, Tate Lates  curated by Diet Paratha 

2019       Live portrait drawing at John Lewis and Partners, Highcross, Leicester

2019       Shop window display at 'Anokhi', Luxury boutique, Shop window, Leicester, 

2019       Collaboration (Exhibition) with Ted x Leicester, 'Fast Forward', The Y Theatre, Leicester September 7th



Press


2023        Peacock Magazine, Q&A Artist Feature, 5th Anniversary Dec/Jan/Feb Issue 


2022       Vogue India, Artist Jemisha Maadhavji's 'Portraits paint a Picture of ungendered fashion, fluidity and self expression'

2020       Harper's Bazaar Art  Magazine, 'Beauty is Genderless'- 'Autumn 2020 Issue 40

2020       Harper's Bazaar Arabia: 'Jemisha Maadhavji on Redefining Beauty Standards Through Art'  

2020       Harper's Bazaar India: Digital Flipbook: Nov/Dec 

2020       Artists and Illustrators Magazine- Article  

2019        The Other Art Fair - Canvas Blog, 'Meet the Others' 



Awards and Collections

2023      Ferens Art Gallery, Permanent Collection, Hull

2022     Soho House Collection, Oxford 


2018      The Christopherson Collection Award, at De Montfort University, Leicester, England

 2018     Two Queens Graduate Award, De Montfort University, Leicester, England 

  • Grey Instagram Icon
bottom of page