Gogi Saroj Pal

Born in 1945 in Neoli, Uttar Pradesh. In 1961-62 she attended College of Art, Banasthali, Rajasthan; In 1962-67 she graduated with a Diploma in Painting, Government College of Arts and Crafts, Lucknow; and in 1968-69 with a Post-graduate in Painting, College of Art, New Delhi. She has held more than 45 solo exhibitions during her long and illustrious career including in 2011 ‘The Feminine Unbound’, Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi; in 2010 ‘Kinnari & Kinnari Mantras’, Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai; in 2007,05 ‘All These Flowers Are For You’, Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai; in 2004 ‘All These Flowers Are For You’, London Art Gallery, London; and in 2004 ‘All These Flowers Are For You’, Crimson Art Gallery, Bangalore.

She has participated in over 100 Group Shows in India and abroad. In 1992-86 International Biennale, Dhaka, Bangladesh; in 1987 International Biennale of Plastic Arts, Algiers; in 1986 Paintings by Contemporary Indian Women Artists, National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi; in 1986 ‘Indian Graphic Print Exhibition’, Finland, Germany and Yugoslavia; in 1986 Inter – Asian Biennale, Ankara; in 1986 Second International Biennale, Havana and Cuba; in 1986-92 International Biennale, Dhaka; in 1985 International Painting Festival, Cogne- Su- Mer, France; in 1984 International Print Biennale, Trino, Rome; in 1982 5th Triennale, India; in 1982 Bedford Print Biennial , England; in 1982 International Print Biennial, Cuba; in 1980 ‘Third World Print Biennale’, London and Baghdad; in 1981-83 14th & 15th Print Biennial, Lubjiyana, Yugoslavia; in 1967 National Exhibition, Arts and Crafts Society, Kolkata.

She is the recipient of several Honours and Awards. In 1995 12th Cleveland International Drawing Biennial, Middlesbrough, U.K; in1990 National Award, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi; in 1987 Jury’s Commendation Certificate in the First International Biennial of Plastic Arts in Algeria; in1986-88 Fellowship, Department of Culture, New Delhi; in 1981-82 Fellowship of Lalit Kala Akademi, Garhi Artists’ Studios, New Delhi; in 1980 Sanskriti Award, New Delhi; in 1978,79,81 Group ‘8’ Medals at All India Graphic- Prints Exhibition, Chandigarh and New Delhi.

Gogi Saroj Pal expresses her local-to-global concerns in her artwork. Comfortable in working with all mediums; painting, sculpture, performance, ceramics and weaving: she comments on all issues that affect humanity and especially those that have a bearing on women’s life through her icons and symbols that dot her artwork. Her inventiveness in her visual armory has put her in the forefront of contemporary art throughout her 5 decades of art practice. Gogi’s creativity is playful at first glance but deadly serious in its intent. She is at the forefront of championing women’s issues and has helped in discarding stereotyped depictions of women in earlier art.