PROFESSIONAL CATEGORY
Urban Clap
Woodcut 24 × 48 inch
Awarded a cash prize of Rs 35,000/-

Aarti is a 28-year-old printmaker and painter based in Delhi. She earned her BFA from the College of Art, Delhi (2022) and her MFA from the Government College of Art, Chandigarh (2024), where she developed a deep interest in printmaking. Specializing in woodcut and etching, Aarti explores themes of nature and womanhood through her work. She received the Student Category Award from Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi and a Travel Grant from Punjab Lalit Kala Akademi in 2024. Her work has been showcased at AIFACS, CIMA Art Gallery, Abir India, the State Gallery of Hyderabad, and NGMA Delhi. Aarti’s artistic practice revolves around two primary themes: the beauty of nature and the lived experiences of women. Having grown up in an urban environment, she instinctively seeks out and expresses the serenity of nature through her art, finding peace and solace in the process. Since 2022, her work has consistently addressed the realities of women's lives in society, especially issues like menstruation, which continue to be stigmatized in many parts of India. Through her expressive and evocative visuals, she portrays the struggles, resilience, and strength of women across generations.

In her piece Urban Clap, Aarti paints herself lying unnoticed on a busy road, symbolizing the emotional disconnect of city life. A butterfly, representing hope, highlights the contrast between urban dreams and the often harsh reality of anxiety, loneliness, and poor health.