Artist Spotlight - Gayathrisai Chandrasekaran — Contemporary Art Curator Magazine

Biography

Gaya Chandrasekaran is an award-winning, London-based contemporary artist whose practice bridges the vivid cultural memory of her upbringing in Chennai, India, with the contemplative stillness of her life in the UK. Trained at the Slade School of Fine Art, her work has received international recognition through major honours including the VAA Art100 International Art Prize, the Collectors Art Prize | Art Legends of Our Time, and the Persona Art Honours.

Poppy Wave, 2026, Textured Acrylic on Deep Edge Canvas, 90 x 70 cm

At the centre of her practice is a deeply personal exploration of connection. For much of her life, she experienced a sense of not quite belonging, a quiet distance that became the starting point for her work. Painting evolved into a way of turning towards these emotions, understanding them, and translating them into form. Over time, this led to a simple but powerful realisation: the feelings we experience most privately are often the ones that connect us most deeply.

Salmon Dusk, 2026, Textured Acrylic on Deep Edge Canvas, 90 x 70 cm

Working in textured acrylic, Chandrasekaran builds sculptural surfaces using palette knives, heavy-body pigments, and gold leaf. Her process is intuitive and layered, shaped by gesture, rhythm, and material. Often inspired by movement and time spent in nature, it reflects an ongoing dialogue between the external landscape and an inner terrain.

Sunrise on the Dunes, 2025, Textured Acrylic on Deep Edge Canvas, 100 x 80 cm

Across her series Soliloquy, Rebirth, and Nirvana, she explores themes of inner dialogue, transformation, and spiritual growth. Colour, influenced by her Indian heritage and life in London, brings warmth and quiet optimism to each piece.

The Silk Route, 2025, Textured Acrylic on Deep Edge Canvas, 100 x 80 cm

Reviewed by Lee Sharrock and Tabish Khan, her work sits between abstraction and landscape, evoking depth, movement, and emotion. Featured in juried and curated publications, her works are held in private collections across the US, Europe, and India.

Woven Land, 2025, Textured Acrylic on Deep Edge Canvas, 100 x 80 cm

Her paintings are not intended to describe a place, but to create one.
Spaces that hold emotion.
Spaces that soften what we carry.
Spaces that remind us that we are not alone.

Elysian Fields, 2025, Textured Acrylic on Canvas Panel, 60 x 46 cm

Artist Statement

I start my canvas with an idea of what I’d like to see, not entirely sure of the end result. I prime the surface, create broad outlines of shapes, and arrange the color palette for ready use. I then let the process take over and evolve. When I use images as reference, I tend to use their abstracted versions as a starting point. I work extensively with acrylics.

Emerald Reverie, 2025, Textured Acrylic on Canvas Panel, 60 x 46 cm

Creating textured art is an intensely tangible experience that brings the artwork alive for me. I use palette knives for layering and mixing heavy body acrylics with gel mediums. I also use gold leaf quite regularly as I am drawn to the color of gold, a powerful symbol of abundance. I continue working until I feel excitement and can embrace the artwork unconditionally. The whole process consistently feels cathartic, infusing me with a deep sense of joy and fulfillment.

Salty Mornings, 2023, Textured Acrylic on Deep Edge Canvas, 80 x 100 cm

My artworks are based on the themes of Quest, Soliloquy, Rebirth and Nirvana. These themes reflect key life moments and are an expression of my thoughts, emotions, sensations, and experiences. As I reflect on and synthesize my experiences, floodgates open for new creative ideas. I record these ideas and refer to them for inspiration. I am strongly influenced by the exuberant colors and patterns of my childhood home in India.

Fall Valley, 2024, Textured Acrylic on Deep Edge Canvas, 50 x 40 cm

I have come to realize that much of individual experience is shared. I intend to give voice to such universal experiences and themes. These include our search for meaning, the constant inner dialogue, endings and beginnings, and the spiritual lessons - some more poignant and difficult - that we learn throughout our lives.

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