Shipra Bhattacharya, born in 1954 in Kolkata, is a renowned Indian artist known for her expressive figurative works that depict women across domestic, urban, and natural spaces.
Deeply rooted in feminine experience, her work has been widely exhibited both in India and internationally.
Though she initially pursued science, earning her bachelor’s degree from Calcutta University, her passion for art led her to the Government College of Art and Craft, Kolkata. She later continued her artistic training at the College of Visual Arts, under the mentorship of acclaimed artist Subh Prasanna, whom she later married.
Shipra held her debut solo exhibition in Kolkata in 1981. One of her most acclaimed bodies of work is the ‘Desire’ series, where she explores women's inner longings through sensuous, symbolic imagery. Her style, marked by smooth brushwork and a palette of bold yet gentle hues, presents her subjects with a unique blend of subtle mystery and assertiveness. Her paintings often blur the lines between reality and fantasy, drawing viewers into a richly imagined world.
While her earlier work captured the lives of ordinary rural and urban women, her more recent pieces turn inward—focusing on the female body as a symbolic canvas. These works are adorned with icons and motifs that convey sensuality, desire, and layers of unspoken meaning.
Her studio, lovingly named "Bagan"—the Bengali word for “garden”—serves as both a creative retreat and spiritual space. Inspired by a visit to the ancient temple city of Bagan in Myanmar, the studio reflects her deep connection to nature and art. She hopes to hold small annual exhibitions there. When not painting or sculpting, the gentle artist finds joy in caring for her plants, arranging earthen pots around a peaceful lily pond—an extension of her artistic sensitivity.
Shipra’s art has also appeared on several book covers, including Bani Basu’s Dark Afternoons and a collection of poetry by Jiban Ananda Das, underscoring the lyrical and meditative essence of her visual language.
