Michelle Poonawalla is an artist who lives and works between London, UK, and Pune, India.
Poonawalla’s works explore universal, socially engaged topics that resonate with a diverse range of audiences, creating powerful memories and moving experiences. Her practice combines cutting-edge technology and traditional artistic mediums in an emotionally charged and poetic form; often utilizing sound, video mapping, projection, motion sensors and other techniques to bring her innovative paintings and installations to life.
Michelle Poonawalla took part in an initiative by Delhi- based NGO Khushii. The project teamed up some of the biggest names from the corporate, sporting and film worlds to work with leading Indian artists and create new works which were auctioned in Delhi in support of the NGO.
Her seminal piece, Introspection (2018), is a striking, immersive experiential artwork which leaves many viewers moved and affected, whilst inspiring them to take action in their own lives. The work has been exhibited at the Saatchi Gallery, London (as part of START, September 2019); Alserkal Avenue, Dubai (Dubai Art Week, March 2019); and as a collateral project at the Kochi Biennale, India (Kochi-Muziris Biennale, 2018).
More recently Poonawalla has begun exploring work with shorter digital format films. Her 3min 36 second film Circle of Life addresses the idea of memory and is exhibited at the 7th Mediations Biennale in Poland.Other digital works have been shown on SedtionArt.com and at the recent World Art Dubai, 2020.
Poonawalla is also actively involved in work supporting important causes of the environment. In 2022, was her support of the Tiger Trail – an initiative of WWF Singapore to raise funds for the endangered Tiger.
Michelle also received the Shiromani award for her contribution in the field of art, showcasing her film Reserve at the Charity Gala. Reserve looks to increase awareness and highlight how simple it is for all of us to make a change. Poonawalla’s speech at The House of Lords touched upon art as a vehicle of change that can bring people together and how art is a universal language.
Her latest project has been her film Reserve shown at the China Biennale and the Asia- Europe Mediations Biennale in Istanbul.
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2023
NRI women’s empowerment initiative, London, UK.
2022
Shiromani Award & Speach, Houses of Parliament, UK.
Women’s Super Car Club of India, Big Boy Toyz, Gurgaon.
Contemporary Signatures, Monalisa Kalagram, Pune.
2021
Kagaz, 079 Stories, Ahmedabad
The Tangible Imaginative, Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai
Textures & Layers, Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai
2020
Sky’s The Limit, the 7th Mediations Biennale, Poland
Art.Lab, World Art Dubai, Dubai
2019
Introspection, START Art Fair, London’s Saatchi Gallery
Introspection, a guest exhibition at Alserkal Avenue, Dubai
2018
Introspection, a collateral project at Kochi-Muziris Biennale 2018
Born Free, Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
Moving into the Future – Harvest 2018, a group exhibition at Stainless Gallery, New Delhi
What If You Fly, a solo exhibition at Vis A Vis Gallery, New Delhi
What If You Fly, a solo exhibition at Spazio Gallery, Pune
2017
Elephant Parade India, Jaipur, New Delhi, Mumbai and London, 2017 and 2018
India Art Story, Kolkata, 2017
Khushi – India On Canvas, in conjunction with Sotheby’s, New Delhi, 2017