For Ujwala, the path to becoming a prolific artist wasn't a straight line, but a journey that began after a full career in the corporate world.
Having previously worked in Marketing and Communications for giants like Apple, Ujwala retired in 2000. However, she quickly found herself missing the rhythm of a daily routine; golf and bridge simply weren't enough to fill the void. It wasn't until a visit to her sister's attic in New York in 2003 that she discovered a stash of art supplies and, subsequently, her true calling.
Ujwala’s artistic education was as dynamic as her geography. Constantly moving for her husband’s work, she absorbed influences from Paris to Alexandria.
While living in a hotel in a remote area of Mumbai, she took her education into her own hands. Scouring daily newspapers for compelling photographs, she began painting daily on recycled paper, focusing intensely on capturing the human face and eyes.
Her journey eventually took her to Delhi, where she audited a course at the Delhi College of Art. There, she followed a strict French pedagogy, drawing and painting live models.
She often joked that she was likely older than most of the other students' mothers, but that didn't stop her. Despite missing some foundational classes on form, she utilised sculpture to understand three-dimensional structures, proving that passion has no age limit.
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From Jakarta to AI Art
From her solo exhibitions in Dhaka and Jakarta to her powerful work on social issues and experiments with AI generation, Ujwala’s second act is just getting started. To read the full feature, check out ASCENSION, the 3rd volume of INTERLUNAR’s zine.
