JUHIKA DEVI BHANJ DEO
Juhika Devi Bhanj Deo is a contemporary Indian artist and Assistant Professor at the School of Design, AURO University, Surat who holds both BVA and MVA degrees from Maharaja Sayajirao University (MSU), Baroda. A recipient of the prestigious Nasreen Mohamedi Award and Gold Medalist, her work intricately explores cultural narratives, weaving visual stories that delve into themes of identity and social change.
Her work has been presented in solo exhibitions at AURO University, Surat (2019) and Gallery Nature Morte (2013). Group exhibitions include the Indian Art Fair through KHOJ, Delhi (2025), Tapi Festival, Surat (2024), Bestcollegeart.com & Glenfiddich, New Delhi (2018), Embassy of the Slovak Republic, New Delhi (2018), 7th Bharat Bhavan Biennale of Contemporary Indian Art, Bhopal (2017), CIMA Art Gallery, Kolkata (2017), UNIDEE, Cittadellarte – Fondazione Pistoletto, Biella, Italy (2015), Partapur, Rajasthan (2015), Vadfest, M.S. University, Vadodara (2015), United Art Fair, Delhi (2013), Khoj, Delhi (2013), Red Earth Art Gallery, Vadodara (2013), Glenfiddich Art Gallery, Dufftown, Scotland (2012), Galerie Mirchandani + Steinruecke, Mumbai (2012), Bridge Art Gallery, Wakefield, UK (2011), Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal (2011), and Lalit Kala Academy, Ahmedabad (2008).
About The Work
Courtesy of Latitude 28, New Delhi
Her recent body of work delves into the concept of 'home'—where we come from, where we belong, and where we are headed. Hailing from the royal family of Bastar, Chhattisgarh, her childhood was anything but ordinary, and neither was her home. These pieces are an excavation of memory, a meditation on roots, and a dialogue with the tribal communities of Bastar—their festivals, customs, and traditions. The artist explores the historical ties between the region's indigenous tribes and the erstwhile royal family, tracing how these relationships have shifted over time.
Thus, the exploration of 'pockets' has expanded—from the literal folds of a shirt to the intangible layers of history, identity, and belonging. It is a journey of revisiting the past, understanding the present, and perhaps, rewriting her own story.