Bhavna Mehta
Bhavna Mehta (born 1968) is an Indian-American visual artist specializing in cut paper and embroidery.[1] She has exhibited widely throughout Southern California and lives and works in San Diego, CA.
Early life
[edit]Mehta was born in Ahmednagar, India. At age seven she contracted polio, which forced her into a wheelchair.[2] She completed a B.A. in physics from Ahmednagar College in 1987 and a M.S. in electronic science at University of Poona in 1989.[3]
At age 22, Mehta immigrated to the United States.[2][3] In 1993, she earned a second master's degree, in computer science, from California State University, Northridge. She began working as a software engineer for Nokia in San Diego. She married George Cunningham, another software engineer, in 2000.[3] Laid off in 2006, she was soon hired by Motorola, but was laid off again in 2008.[2]
Having achieved a degree of financial security, she decided in 2008 to try a career as an artist. After exploring various media, she enrolled in a paper-cutting workshop led by paper artist Béatrice Coron at the Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina.[3]
Solo exhibitions
[edit]- 2013 A Paper Garden, Noel-Baza Fine Art, San Diego, CA
- 2015 Gush, Oceanside Museum of Art, Oceanside, CA[4][5]
- 2017 Once Upon a Body, Art Produce, San Diego, CA
- 2018 Leela - Portrait of a Woman in a Green Dress, Timken Museum of Art, San Diego, CA[6]
Awards
[edit]- San Diego Art Prize, 2014[7]
- Creative Catalyst Grant, San Diego Foundation, 2015[8][9]
- Artists Activating Communities Grant, California Arts Council, 2016-2017
References
[edit]- ^ "Paper Worlds: Bhavna Mehta". Vanguard Culture. 2017-01-04. Retrieved 2018-05-19.
- ^ a b c Schimitschek, Martina (2018-03-25). "Spring arts 2018: Meet visual artist Bhavna Mehta". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2018-05-19.
- ^ a b c d Pincus, Robert L. (2016-04-19). "Bhavna Mehta and the Power of Paper". KCET. Retrieved 2018-05-19.
- ^ "Culture Report: Paper Cuts You'll Actually Enjoy". Voice of San Diego. 2017-11-14. Retrieved 2018-05-20.
- ^ Gaugh, Catherine. "'Gush' breaks out at Oceanside Museum of Art". sandiegouniontribune.com. Retrieved 2018-05-20.
- ^ Morlan, Kinsee (2018-07-17). "Culture Report: A Living Artist Helps the Timken Come Alive". Voice of San Diego. Retrieved 2018-11-22.
- ^ Hewitt, Lonnie Burstein. "Athenaeum Music & Arts Library exhibit celebrates 2014 San Diego Art Prize winners in La Jolla". lajollalight.com. Retrieved 2018-05-20.
- ^ "Creative Catalyst Program". The San Diego Foundation. Retrieved 2018-05-19.
- ^ "10 Local Artists Get Fellowships from San Diego Foundation". Times of San Diego. 2015-02-09. Retrieved 2018-05-20.