Artist Statement
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In "BECOMING," we embrace the notion that everything is in perpetual transformation. Swapna Das’s art is a profound voyage of self-discovery, an ever-evolving symphony where her artistic sensibility dances with her innermost being. Her work, a mirror to the soul, reflects the many overwhelming changes she has encountered and expressed with grace and clarity.
In her latest body of work, Das presents a significant metamorphosis in her artistic journey: the alchemy of turning two-dimensional charcoal drawings into three-dimensional ceramic sculptures. Her series of tiny circle monochrome drawings are lifecycles in miniature, encapsulating collective emotions of distress and vulnerability. These intricate, abstract forms, enveloped in circular embraces, drew her towards a deeper exploration.
Seeking depth and profound meaning, Das ventured into the realm of ceramics, where serendipity welcomed her with open arms. The tactile journey of molding clay—kneading, pinching, and sculpting—became a ritual of healing and revelation. In the transformation, she found a new dimension to her art, where complex and abstract lines from her charcoal drawings blossomed into vibrant, alive forms—tubes, strings, and cords entangling in an organic dance.
Das is thrilled to witness and share this evolution, where her two-dimensional work breathes life in three dimensions. Each ceramic sculpture stands as a testament to her ongoing journey of becoming—a tangible manifestation of her inner world's complexities and the relentless pursuit of understanding and expression.
She believes that her internal and external worlds are in a constant state of becoming, ever-changing and ever-evolving. This continuous transformation excites and inspires her, and she is eager to explore and share this journey with the world.

Dr. Daisaku Ikeda says: “A great work of art is one that truly moves and inspires people.”


                                                    CURRICULUM VITAE


SWAPNA DAS
Email: [email protected]
www.swapnadas-art.com
Instagram: www.instagram.com/kosen_rufu_artist/
                                                      
EDUCATION

Masters in Fine Arts – Painting & Drawing
Arizona State University, 2013- 2016

Bachelor of Fine Arts – Painting
College of Art – University of Delhi, India, 2001 – 2005


ACHIEVEMENTS
  • Recipient of Honorary Mention at the Southwest Surrealism/ Surreal Southwest Exhibition at YC Prescott College in 2024
  • Recipient for $1,000 at the 6th Annual Art for Good Grant Project provided by the Carmody Foundation and presented by Sisao Gallery,  2022                        
  • Featured in YabYum Music+Arts in  2017
  •  https://www.yabyumwest.com/2017/08/yabyum-seven-swapna-das.html
  • Visual Artists and Writers Residency at Vermont Studio Center, July 2016
  • Thesis Exhibition “Ten Worlds” featured in The State Press on 03/ 28/2016                  
  • Featured in The Phoenix New Times on 03/18/2016                                               
  • Graduate Research Scholarship, Graduate Professional & Scholarship Association, ASU  2015-16
  • Gerry Grout Visual Art Scholarship, Arizona State University 2015-16
  • Special Talent Award Scholarship, Arizona State University 2015-16
  • Special Talent Award Scholarship, Arizona State University 2013-14
  • Art work featured in newspaper “The Mesa Legend”, 2013
  • Won National Scholarship to Young Artist in different cultural fields, Ministry of Human Resource and Development, Department of Culture, Govt. of India. in Print Making, Rs 50000, 2007
  • Invited to Garhi Art Camp, Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi by eminent artists, 2007
  • Painting selected for National Art Exhibition for Junior Artist,  2004

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EXHIBITIONS / ART SHOWS
  • BECOMING, Solo Exhibition, Eye Lounge, Arizona 2024
  • Southwest Surrealism/ Surreal Southwest group exhibition, Yavapai College, Prescott 2024
  • Art Detour Group Exhibition, Eye Lounge, Arizona 2024
  • Inner World, Group Exhibition, Boomer Gallery, London 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
  • Exploring the World, Times Square Exhibition, New York   2023
  • The Surreal World, Found Re: Phoenix Hotel, Phoenix, Arizona    2023
  • In Celebration of Women II Exhibit, Herberger Theater Center, Tempe, Arizona  2023
  • Tiny Exhibition, Sisao Gallery, Phoenix  2022
  • 22nd Annual Juried Exhibition, Found Re: Phoenix Hotel, Phoenix Arizona  2022
  • 6th Annual Art for Good Grant Project, Group Show , Sisao Gallery Phoenix  2022
  • Strange Figuration, Group Show at Hudson, New York  2022
  • Biennale Faculty Art Show, Mesa Community College, Arizona, USA  2022
  • Solo Art Exhibition, Art Gallery at Mesa Community College 2022
  • Solo Art Exhibition, Vault Gallery at ASU Phoenix  Downtown Library, Phoenix, Spring 2018
  • Solo Art Exhibition, Central Gallery at Phoenix Public Library, Phoenix, Fall 2018
  • InSight II, Author + Artist Collaboration, New City Studios, Phoenix, Jan 2018
  • Fine Art Show, Arizona State Fair, Arizona Fair Ground, Phoenix, 2017
  • Big Ideas in Small Packages, Blue Door Art Center, New York, 2017
  • That New, Exhibition at Unexpected Gallery, Phoenix, 2017
  • Nasty Women Art Exhibition, Grand ArtHaus, Phoenix, USA, 2017
  • Nasty Women Art Exhibition at The Knockdown Center, New York, USA, 2017
  • Tiny Works/ Tiny Dances, Gallery 9, Phoenix, Arizona, USA, 2016
  • 3rd Annual Surprise Invitational Exhibition, Surprise, Arizona, USA, 2016
  • Biennale Faculty Art Show, Mesa Community College, Arizona, USA, 2016
  • Chocolate and Art Show, MonOrchid, Phoenix, USA, 2016
  • Gods and Monsters, Group Exhibition, Gallery 9, Phoenix, Arizona, USA, 2016
  • Ten Worlds, Thesis Exhibition, Harry Wood Gallery, ASU, 2016
  • All Arizona Group Exhibition, Thermal Gallery, Art Detour, Phoenix, 2016
  • Inverse Conversation Group Art Show, Qingzhou, China, 2016
  • Inverse Conversation, Renmin University, Beijing, China, 2016
  • Arizona Artist Guild Statewide Open Exhibition, Juried Show at Glendale Gallery, 2016
  • Epilogue: Contemporary Literary Art, Juried Show at Firehouse Gallery, Phoenix, 2016
  • Creative Push Group Exhibition, Step Gallery, ASU, USA, 2016
  • Group Show at art|object, Carefree, Arizona, USA, 2015
  • Seven @ Nine, ASU MFA Show, Gallery 9, Phoenix, Arizona, USA, 2015
  • Nathan Cummings Show, ASU, USA, 2015
  • Inverse Conversation, Exchange Exhibition with Renmin University of China, ASU, USA, 2015
  • Eight on Seventh at Mother Bunch, Phoenix, USA, 2014
  • Solid Solutions II: Best of the ASU Foundry, Step Gallery - ASU, USA,  2014
  • Ice House Sculpture Show, Phoenix, 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
  • Art and Culture Show, Intel Corporation, Arizona, USA, 2013
  • 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
  • All India Art Exhibition, Amritsar, India, 2006
  • Art Show, Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi, India, 2006
  • Agnipath Art Exhibition and Competition, New Delhi, India, 2005
  • 46th National Art Exhibition, Kochi, India, 2004


TEACHING EXPERIENCE

Mesa Community College, Mesa, Arizona, Fall 2016- Present​
  • Adjunct Faculty of Art 111, Drawing I
  • Adjunct Faculty of Art 112, Two Dimensional Design
  • Adjunct Faculty of ART122, Drawing and Composition II, Emphasis on composition and exploration of drawing media. ART 211, Drawing and Composition III, Advanced development of drawing skill with emphasis on compositional theory. ART 222, Drawing and Composition IV, Further study of drawing techniques with emphasis on individual problems and techniques. ART 290AC, Studio Art, Studio course for art majors allowing continuation in a subject field.

Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, Arizona State University, 2014- 2021
  • Faculty Associate for Art 110, Drawing as Seeing and Thinking
  • Faculty Associate for Art 112. Two Dimensional Design
  • Teaching Assistant of Art 113 Undergraduate course at ASU
  • Teaching fundamentals of color theory in visual art, giving lectures and exams, critiques and grading.

 AFS Institute, New Delhi, India, 2010 –2011
  • Teaching college students different techniques like Sketching, Still Life, Color, Composition, Perspective Composition, Object Drawings, Outdoor sketching,, Human Figure Drawing, Anatomy Drawing of Humans and Animals, Textile Designing, Typography and Water Color

Tagore International School, New Delhi, India, 2008 – 2011
  • Teaching grade 1st till 8th students- Clay Modeling, Creative Art, Craft & Art mix.
  • Managing events of all art competitions all throughout the year-  Student selection and Training for both  Inter and Intra school events
  • Organizing Annual Art exhibitions at Intra-school for all grades
  • Preparing backdrop and  sets ( 40 x 40 ft) and prepred props for participants forAnnual Function
  • Responsible for preparing display boards on all occasions

Private Classes, 2009 – 2011
  • Offered private art classes to kids at home 

Leap Year School, New Delhi, 2007
  • Teaching primary students drawing, painting and clay modeling

 
WORK EXPERIENCE

  • Commission Work for PhD Music Recital, ASU, 2014
  • Worked in Lalit Kala Academy Regional Studio, Garhi, 2005 – 2009
  • Freelancing - House Wall Painting, 2011
  • Freelancing - Comic Illustration for children book, 2006


LANGUAGE

  • English, Hindi, Bengali