NEELAM GAUR

ARTIST | CURATOR | VISIONARY

Neelam Gaur began painting at the age of 5 and continued through school.  She was an abstract expressionist early on, being chastised by her elementary school teachers for her drippy non-realistic work.

In college her practical nature asserted itself and she started her graduation in English Literature instead of an artist. In the following years, she just survived on small jobs, wishing all the while she had painted what she dreams about.

Finally, in 2005, she reconnected with an old friend, an army officer.  He sensed her long-suppressed desire to create art and asked her why she wasn’t painting. She answered she didn’t know.  Her friend brought her, acrylic paint and a few brushes and said, “Paint.” Neelam hasn’t stopped painting since. Since reengaging with her art, Neelam has studied at the Government College of Arts in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.  Her paintings immediately resonated with viewers.  Her work has been exhibited in many places in India and many private collections.

Neelam speaks about going to Art College at the age of 27 “When I went to an art school, suddenly things made sense. The possibilities for developing ideas and sharing them, and engaging in dialogue, challenging my positions on things. I felt like I was expanding, weekly. And it was a growth that I wanted more and more. It was like an addiction. It is an addiction.” She survived through a tragedy in 2019 which got her face and chest burnt fully but motivated her to build this website to inspire her audience with her art.