Swapna Das: CV

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Practicing visual artist and fine arts educator based in the Bay Area with over a decade of teaching experience at higher education institutions, including Mesa Community College and Arizona State University. Experienced in instructing drawing, painting, design, and color theory, with an emphasis on developing students’ technical proficiency, critical thinking, and individual artistic voice. Actively engaged in the contemporary art field through solo and group exhibitions, grants, and artist residencies at both national and international levels.

EDUCATION

Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Drawing & Painting
Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ (2013 - 2016)

Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Painting
College of Art – University of Delhi, India (2002 - 2006)

WORK  EXPERIENCE

Artist Member

  • Higher Fire Studios- Ceramic Studio, San Jose California (2025- present)

  • Artspan- San Fransisco Art Organization, California (2025- present)

Artist Member, Eye Lounge Contemporary Art Space
Phoenix, AZ  (2023– 2024)

  • Collaborated with a collective of artists in a renowned contemporary art gallery.

  • Gained experience in curating art exhibitions, including planning, organization, and installation.

  • Contributed to exhibitions, artistic programming, and community engagement initiatives.

  • Developed and showcased work in a professional gallery setting.

TEACHING  EXPERIENCE

Mesa Community College, Mesa, Arizona
Adjunct Faculty (2016 – 2024)

  • Art 111, Drawing I: Introduction to drawing techniques, principles of line, value, and form.

  • Art 112, Two-Dimensional Design: Exploration of design principles, color theory, and visual composition.

  • Art 122, Drawing and Composition II: Focus on advanced composition techniques and the use of diverse drawing media.

  • Art 211, Drawing and Composition III: Development of advanced drawing skills with emphasis on compositional theory and creative expression.

  • Art 222, Drawing and Composition IV: Further exploration of personal drawing techniques and individual artistic challenges.

  • Art 290AC, Studio Art: Studio course for art majors offering advanced study in a specific subject field, encouraging experimentation and personal style development.

  • Designed and managed weekly projects and biweekly assignments, evaluated midterm and final assessments, and provided individualized one-on-one guidance to support student growth and academic success.

Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, Arizona State University
Faculty Associate (2014 – 2021)

  • Art 110, Drawing as Seeing and Thinking: Taught foundational concepts in drawing, emphasizing the relationship between visual perception and artistic creation.

  • Art 112, Two-Dimensional Design: Led students in learning design fundamentals, including balance, proportion, and the use of space.

  • Art 113, Color: Assisted with teaching color theory in visual art, prepared presentations, and coordinated critiques. Responsible for the creation of exam papers and evaluation of student progress.

Academy of Fashion Studies, Delhi, India
Art Instructor (2010 – 2011)

  • Taught a wide range of techniques, including sketching, still life, color composition, perspective, human and animal anatomy, textile design, typography, and watercolors.

  • Led classes on outdoor sketching and object drawing, helping students develop technical and creative skills.

Tagore International School, New Delhi, India
Art Teacher and Event Coordinator (2008 – 2011)

  • Instructed students from grades 1 to 8 in clay modeling, creative arts, and mixed media crafts.

  • Managed and coordinated art competitions, selecting and training students for both intra- and inter-school events.

  • Organized annual school art exhibitions and prepared visual displays, backdrops, and props for school functions.

  • Oversaw the creation and arrangement of art displays for special events.

Leap Year School, New Delhi, India
Art Instructor (2007)

  • Taught drawing, painting, and clay modeling to primary school students, fostering creativity and artistic expression at an early age.

Volunteer Experience

  • Teaching art classes at Easterbrook Discovery School, San Jose California 2024- 2026

  • Teaching art project with preschooler at Val Vista Academy, Arizona 2022- 2023

 

ACHIEVEMENTS

  • Selected and Worked with Collective Artists Group- Eye Lounge, Phoenix (2023-2024)

  • Featured in Visual Art Source – Becoming by Swapna Das (2024)

  • 6th Annual Art for Good Grant – Carmody Foundation, presented by Sisao Gallery (2022)

  • Arizona State Fair, Phoenix – Second Prize (2018), Honorable Mention (2017)

  • Featured in YabYum Music + Arts, Digital Art Platform (2017)

  • Featured in The State Press – Thesis Exhibition “Ten Worlds” (2016)

  • Featured in The Phoenix New Times – Thesis Exhibition “Ten Worlds” (2016)

  • Vermont Studio Center – Visual Artists and Writers Residency (2016)

  • Graduate Research Scholarship – Arizona State University (2015-16)

  • Gerry Grout Visual Art Scholarship – Arizona State University (2015-16)

  • Special Talent Award Scholarship – Arizona State University (2015-16, 2013-2014, 2012)

  • Featured in The Mesa Legend – Art Work (2012)

  • National Scholarship for Young Artists – Government of India, Ministry of HRD (2007)

  • Selected in Prestigious Garhi Art Camp, Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi, India (2007)

  • Painting Selected for National Art Exhibition for Junior Artists, New Delhi, India (2004)

 

EXHIBITIONS / ART SHOWS

Solo Exhibitions

  • Becoming, Eye Lounge, Phoenix AZ (2024)

  • Being Human, Art Gallery at Mesa Community College (2022)

  • Metamorphosis, Vault Gallery, ASU Phoenix Downtown Library, Phoenix, AZ (2018)

  • Metamorphosis, Central Gallery, Phoenix Public Library, Phoenix (2018)

  • Ten Worlds (Thesis Exhibition), Harry Wood Gallery, ASU, Tempe (2016)

Juried Exhibitions

  • 2026 Hidden Treasures, Local Art Exhibition, Fremont California, 2026

  • 5th Annual genARTS Experimental Exhibition, Interwoven: the threads that binds (US), California, 2025

  • 46th Annual Art Contemporary Crafts, Mesa Contemporary Arts Museum, Arizona (2025)

  • Southwest Surrealism/Surreal Southwest, Yavapai College, Prescott (2024)

  • 22nd Annual Juried Exhibition, Found Re: Phoenix Hotel, Phoenix, Arizona (2022)

  • Arizona Biennial 2018, Tucson Museum of Art and History, Tucson, Arizona (2018)

  • Arizona Artist Guild Statewide Open Exhibition, Glendale Gallery, Arizona (2016)

  • 3rd Annual Surprise Invitational Exhibition, Surprise, Arizona (2016)

  • 46th National Art Exhibition, Kochi, India (2004)

International Exhibitions

  • Inner World, Boomer Gallery, London (2024)

  • Strange Figuration, Hudson, New York (2022)

  • Inverse Conversation Group Art Show, Qingzhou, China (2016)

  • Inverse Conversation, Renmin University, Beijing, China (2016)

  • Inverse Conversation, Renmin University of China & ASU, USA (2015)

  • All India Art Exhibition, Amritsar, India (2006)

  • Agnipath Art Exhibition and Competition, New Delhi, India (2005)

Institutional Shows

  • SVVA/SVOS Spotlight Exhibition, Community School of Music and Arts, California, 2026

  • SVVA/SVOS Spotlight Exhibition, Burlingame Library, California, 2026

  • Biennial Faculty and Staff Exhibition, MCC Art Gallery, Mesa, Arizona (2024)

  • In Celebration of Women II Exhibit, Herberger Theater Center, Tempe, Arizona (2023)

  • Strange Figuration, Group Show at Hudson, New York (2022)

  • Biennale Faculty Art Show, Mesa Community College, Arizona (2022)

  • The Wandering Show, Torrance Art Museum, Torrance, California (2020)

  • Arizona Biennial 2018, Tucson Museum of Art and History, Tucson, Arizona (2018)

  • ASU Graduate College Exhibition, Tempe, Phoenix (2017)

  • Biennale Faculty Art Show, Mesa Community College, Arizona (2016)

  • Creative Push Group Exhibition, Step Gallery, ASU, Tempe (2016)

  • Inverse Conversation, Renmin University of China, ASU, USA (2015)

  • Nathan Cummings Show, ASU, Tempe (2015)

  • Solid Solutions II: Best of the ASU Foundry, Step Gallery, ASU, USA (2014)

  • Step Gallery Art Show, Arizona State University, USA (2013)

  • Fiasco: Art of Failure, Arizona State University, USA (2013)

  • New Graduate Art Show, Arizona State University, USA (2013)

Community Art Shows

  • Silicon Valley Visual Artists, Group Exhibition, Los Altos Library, California (2025)

  • M|otherworlds, Group Exhibition, Vision Gallery, Chandler, AZ (2025)

  • Abstraction, Metal Haus Gallery, San Francisco (2025)

  • Awakening, Avanti Art Gallery, Online Exhibition (2024)

  • Fusion Art, Light and Shadow Group Exhibition, Online (2024)

  • Art Detour Group Exhibition, Eye Lounge, Phoenix, AZ (2024)

  • In Celebration of Women II Exhibit, Arizona Capital, Arizona (2024)

  • For Now, Eye Lounge Gallery, Phoenix, Arizona (2023)

  • All Eyes On You, Eye Lounge Gallery, Phoenix, Arizona (2023)

  • Varied Voices, Shemer Art Gallery, Phoenix, Arizona (2023)

  • Artist in Motion, Mesa Artspace Gallery, Mesa, Arizona (2023)

  • The Surreal World, Found Re: Phoenix Hotel, Phoenix, Arizona (2023)

  • Tiny Exhibition, Sisao Gallery, Phoenix (2022)

  • 6th Annual Art for Good Grant Project, Group Show, Sisao Gallery Phoenix (2022)

  • Travel In Alptraum, Fine Art Complex 110, Tempe, Phoenix (2019)

  • InSight II, Author + Artist Collaboration, New City Studios, Phoenix (2018)

  • Nasty Women Art Exhibition, Grand ArtHaus, Phoenix (2017)

  • Nasty Women Art Exhibition, The Knockdown Center, New York (2017)

  • That New, Unexpected Gallery, Phoenix, AZ (2017)

  • Fine Art Show, Arizona State Fair, Arizona Fair Ground, Phoenix, AZ (2017)

  • Big Ideas in Small Packages, Blue Door Art Center, New York (2017)

  • Tiny Works/Tiny Dances, Gallery 9, Phoenix, AZ (2016)

  • Gods and Monsters, Gallery 9, Phoenix, AZ (2016)

  • All Arizona Group Exhibition, Thermal Gallery, Art Detour, Phoenix, AZ (2016)

  • Chocolate and Art Show, MonOrchid, Phoenix, AZ (2016)

  • Epilogue: Contemporary Literary Art, Firehouse Gallery, Phoenix, AZ (2016)

  • Seven @ Nine, ASU MFA Show, Gallery 9, Phoenix, AZ (2015)

  • Group Show at art|object, Carefree, Arizona (2015)

  • Eight on Seventh at Mother Bunch, Phoenix, USA (2014)

  • Ice House Sculpture Show, Phoenix, USA (2014)

  • Art and Culture Show, Intel Corporation, Arizona, USA (2012)

  • Exhibition at Mesa Community College Fine Art Festival, Arizona USA (2012)

  • Garhi Art Show, Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi, India (2007)

  • Dew to Drops, Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi, India (2006)

  • Art Show, Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi, India (2006)

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

  • Ceramics Workshop- Conducted clay workshops for kids 2025-2026

  • Commission Mural- Home Improvement/ Wall mural 2023

  • Commission Mural- Kids Wall mural 2022

  • Commission Work – PhD Music Recital, ASU (2014)

  • Freelance Mural Painting – Residential and public spaces (2011)

LANGUAGES

English | Hindi | Bengali