India. Delhi. Visual art, painting, and sculpting are creative professions that need a lot of patience. It takes years of hard work for an artist to make a standing in a competitive society. Very few make it to the mark and stay there.
Though Sheela Chamariya studied to become a botanist, the creative bug prompted her to become a full-time sculptor. She started her initial discipline from Triveni Kala Sangam, Delhi in 1992 and also worked with a German artist Micheal T to fine-tune her skills.
Bronze sculpture – Human emotions 
Lord Ganesha in Bronze
The visual format of Sheela`s work has a somewhat formal interplay of colours and shapes, producing an optical sensation of both harmony and rhythm. Her work is sensitive and sensual; critics often refer to her work as having a “mysterious, rhythmic quality of love and emotion, of possessing clarity and definite ideas, and consistent thematic concepts to convey to the viewers”.
In conversation with Transcontinental Times, Chamariya revealed that she likes to move through a phase of highly personal form of semi-abstract expression. She chose the medium of sculpture as it allows her to do what she loves. And she loves to project her inner thought and reflection of her personality in the uncluttered forms she creates by concentrating on line, form, and space, giving the creation a structured look.
Her work has evolved in terms of vitality and expression as she keeps on exploiting the geometric properties of human forms. She uses bronze in varying finishes, at times with regular patina, or patina with a splash of vibrant colours. She has also worked with ceramics concentrating on Raku glazes combined with bronze.
She has her creations in the collection of major corporate houses like the Luxor Group, Oswal Group, Jindal Group, Dalmia, Burmans (Dabur group), Ranbaxy, and many in various private collection like Stevens Inst. Of Tech. USA, British High Commissioner to India 2004-2007, and Deputy British High Commissioner 2003-2006 in India and abroad.
Adept in different mediums
Baby Keepsakes Embossed 3-dimensional board
She also does embossed three-dimensional boards, i.e. hand-beaten – copper and brass wall pieces expressing the human relationship through form, colour and texture. She is also an expert in casting babies impressions of hands and feet.
She has also been conducting sculpture workshops at her studio as well as for various art galleries and various corporate leadership training programs and NGOs. She has been invited to judge various art contests in schools and colleges.
Critics appreciate the delicate complexity of her work
“Delicate human sentiments expressed with great sensitivity in work of sculptural power…” – E.Alkazi
“Relationships – tender, loving and caring captured in malleable forms etched in timelessness that is universal as it is eternal …”
“Who can forget the wonderful tradition of the Chola period bronzes – contemporary sculptors like Sheela will hopefully keep the flag flying in their attempts to explore new idioms in this tough medium.” – Alka Raghuvanshi
Photo Credits: Pradeep Chamaria
