Neha Dey

Born in 2000 in Chittaranjan, a small locomotive town in West Bengal, Neha Dey is a visual artist whose work intricately explores personal narratives, weaving together memories, experiences, and observations of her surroundings. Having completed her B.F.A. in Painting from Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata (2023) and currently pursuing (final year) M.F.A. in Painting at the Government College of Art and Craft, Kolkata, she has developed a unique artistic language that blends nostalgia, nature, and urban experiences.

Her practice delves into the intersections of nature, urbanity, childhood wonder, and personal memory. Inspired by her diverse experiences of “home,” she creates a tapestry of narratives where fragmented recollections seamlessly integrate with present observations. Nature’s richness and diversity play a vital role in her work, with vibrant depictions of birds, animals, and plants coexisting with subtle urban landscapes in the background. These elements invite deeper engagement, revealing the interplay between the organic and the constructed, the remembered and the contemporary.

Breaking away from conventional formats, Neha often paints on canvas and paper shaped like clothing—dresses, frocks, skirts, and baggy pajamas—transforming them into story-laden compositions. These unconventional surfaces become portals to childhood fantasies, depicting children playing amid dreamlike settings filled with chimeric creatures. She further incorporates personal objects such as toys and dolls, crafting surreal sequences that blur the line between reality and imagination.

Her works have been exhibited in prestigious exhibitions, including Art Heritage Gallery, New Delhi (2024), the Birla Academy of Art & Craft Annual Exhibition (2025), Annual Exhibition from Government College of Art and Craft, Kolkata (2024), State Akademi of dance, drama and visual arts Annual Exhibition (2023, 2020), Annual Art Exhibition of Rabindra Bharati University, (2022, 2023) and ‘Brushing with Change: Budding Artists from Bengal’, AMI Art Festival, Kolkata (2023) among others. She has also been recognized with the Young Artists Scholarship (Ministry of Culture, 2023) and other accolades. Through her art, Neha continues to explore themes of identity, memory, and transformation.

Academics

B.F.A. in painting, from Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata, India in 2023

Pursuing M.F.A. in painting from Government College of Art and Craft, Kolkata, India (final yr.)

Awards

Certificate of Merit in painting in 159th Parampara Annual Exhibition from Government College of Art and Craft, Kolkata in 2024

Young Artist Scholarship from The Ministry of Culture(for the year 2020-21 in 2023

Certificate in painting at 1st All India Women’s National Art Exhibition, Varnika Society in 2022