Geeta Vadhera

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Geeta Vadhera
Alma materCollege of Art, Delhi
Websitehttps://geetavadhera.in/

Geeta Vadhera is an Indian painter and writer whose work combines abstract painting, poetry, and visual interpretation of spiritual themes. Trained at the Delhi College of Art, she has exhibited her paintings in France, Italy, Germany , India, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates since the 1980s. Her work draws on Sufi poetry and Vedantic philosophy, and includes the concrete poetry collection Ansh, that are in the Eugen Gomringer collection at the Swiss National Library’s Literary Archive (Schweizerisches Literaturarchiv). .[1][2][3]

Archive holdings

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Materials by and about Geeta Vadhera are preserved in the Eugen Gomringer collection at the Swiss National Library’s Literary Archive (Schweizerisches Literaturarchiv). Under the call number D-05-VAD (c. 2000), the archive contains:

  • A profile: Geeta Vadhera — nine leaves with cover and artist CV
  • Theme lines — small-format art prints (tape-bound)
  • Gerahmte Gemälde (Reproduktionen) — six framed reproductions titled Dedication, Surrender, Flame, Content, Sound Alone, and Vermillion, along with a Vadhera dossier

These files are cross-referenced with B-1-VAD and B-2-VAD.[4]

Life and career

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Geeta Vadhera , also Geeta Vadhera Sawhney , studied at the Delhi College of Art and began exhibiting her paintings in the 1980s. Reviews in the Singapore press described her paintings as combining philosophical depth with lyrical abstraction.[5][6][2]

Her exhibitions have been held at the Visual Arts Gallery of the India Habitat Centre, New Delhi, and internationally in Singapore and Dubai. Her 2011 solo exhibition Qalb Qudrat in Dubai drew wide press coverage in English- and Arabic-language newspapers in the United Arab Emirates.[3][7][8][9][10]

She has also engaged with literary practice. Her book of concrete poetry, Ansh, has been recognized in international archives in Germany and has been noted in Indian critical literature.[1][11]

Exhibitions

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  • "Rik", Show based on the Rig Veda, Jacques Place, Turin
  • "Rik", Galerie Anne Marie Rey, Nice
  • "Time and Space", At Opening of India House, Bonn
  • "Aru", Show based on Isovasya Upanishad, La Finestrella Galerie d'Arte, Canelli Italy
  • "Aru", Audio visual and paintings, Lycee Technique Estienee, Paris
  • "Aru", Urban Development Authority, Singapore
  • "Aj", Show based on Kabir's Sakhis, Funan Centre, Singapore
  • "Aj", with Audiovisual and lecture, Alliance Francaise, Singapore
  • "Ank", Show based on the Rig Veda, At the Opening of India House, Bonn Germany
  • "Sarvam", works based on the essence of the Bhagwad Geeta, Singapore Festival of Arts; supported by audio visual and jazz ballet tap dance by Karen Clarke, Imperial Hotel, Singapore
  • "Sarvam", Alliance Francaise, Singapore
  • "Grenzbereiche der Konkreten Kunst", Forum Konkreten Kunst, Erfut,Germany
  • "Aksh - The Weave" , Calligraphic paintings, WTC, Singapore
  • “The She Shadow”, on aspects of womanhood, Singapore Festival of Books
  • “Saam – An Act of Space” Tours, France
  • “Saraswati”, Art Mosaic Gallery, Singapore*
  • “Qualb Qudrat” The Guild Gallery Dubai.
  • Within India
  • "Ansh", Exhibition on Concrete Poetry, AIFACS, New Delhi
  • "Ansh", Museum of Fine Arts, Chandigarh
  • "Sogarda", Exhibition of the Society of Graphic Designers, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
  • All India Art Exhibition, Lucknow All India Art Exhibition, Banaras National
  • Sahitya Kala Parishad Exhibition,
  • New Delhi Show of Awic (Writers and Illustrators Association), India International Centre, New Delhi
  • “The She Shadow” New Delhi
  • “Jogia Dhoop” India Habitat Centre New Delhi
  • “Tharro Thar”, Galerie Leela, Mumbai
  • “Qudrat Qirdaar”, Nehru Centre, Mumbai
  • “The Written Word”Apparao Galleries, Chennai, Bangalore*
  • “Womens World”, Galeria des Bellas Artes, Goa
  • “Dar Dahleez” Visual Arts Gallery, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi
  • “Drakhat Mere Darmiyaan”, Jahangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
  • “Shah-Shabad” , Visual Arts Gallery ,India Habitat Centre, New Delhi

Publications

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  • Ansh (concrete poetry).
  • An Introduction to Art (educational text, referenced in art pedagogy).[12]

References

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[2] [6] [5] [3] [7] [8] [9] [10] [1] [11] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18] [19] [20] [12]

[edit]

Expanded article with additional reliable sources (Straits Times 1986–88, Khaleej Times, Gulf News, Indian Horizons, ANUCDE). Consolidated references, retained existing citations, added exhibitions/publications, and improved lead section.

Early life

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Geeta Vadhera was born in India to a mother who was an artist.[21] She studied for a Bachelor of Arts at the College of Art, Delhi and undertook further research in France and Germany.[22]

Career

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Geeta has shown her artworks in Asia, Australia and Europe.She has had a total of 35 solo exhibitions of her works across the world. [23] In 1986, she showed her paintings at the Orchard Point Gallery in Singapore and the following year at the Funan Centre.[24][22] In 1988, she exhibited 24 paintings at the Arts Festival Fringe.[21] In 2011, she exhibited her paintings at Jumeirah Emirates Tower at Dubai.[23] Her art has been inspired by the Sufi poetry of Bulleh Shah and the Isha Upanishad.[25][24]

Geeta's works on Concrete Poetry, the poetry inherent in the Devnagri script, has been stored in the international archives of Concrete Poetry in Germany.

Geeta has her studio in Whitefield, Bangalore, India.[26][27] She published a book of poetry written in Hindi, entitled Ansh (A Part of Me) and also has written books about art for children.[22][28] In 2021, she addressed the Horasis event discussing art after the COVID-19 pandemic in India.[29]

Awards and recognition

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Geeta received the Bharat Nirman super achiever award in 1995.[30]

Illustrations & Books

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Geeta , working as Geeta Vadhera, Geeta Vadhera Sawhney and Geeta Sawhney has illustrated a large number of books , magazines and articles.

BOOKS & ILLUSTRATION WORK

National Book Trust (NBT), India

  • The Sun Fairies — Swapna Dutta (1994 ed., later reprints). Illustrated by Geeta Vadhera. ISBN 978-81-237-2984-8 / 978-81-237-0579-8. https://nbtindia.gov.in

Children’s Book Trust (CBT), India

  • So Can I — Nilima Sinha (1988). Illustrated by Geeta Vadhera. ISBN 8170113849. https://www.worldcat.org/title/so-can-i/oclc/60277062
  • Is That a Ball? — Alaka Shankar (1987). Illustrated by Geeta Vadhera. (Out of print title — CBT archives.)
  • The Magic Tree — Shanta Rameshwar Rao (1988). Illustrated by Geeta Vadhera. (CBT archives.)
  • The New Blue Umbrella — Nalini Das (1989). Illustrated by Geeta Vadhera. (CBT archives.)
  • The Mango Tree — Sarojini Sinha (1990). Illustrated by Geeta Vadhera. (CBT archives.)

Heinemann Educational Books (Asia), Singapore — Joy Readers (Level A)

(Author: Joy Cowley · Illustrator: Geeta Sawhney (Vadhera))

  • Grandmother Is Tired — ISBN 9971-64-547-5. https://worldcat.org/oclc/220052633
  • Jumping Shoes — ISBN 9971-64-543-2.
  • The Big Boo Bird — ISBN 9971-64-553-7.
  • Hair — ISBN 9971-64-577-7.
  • Run, Run, Run / Fireworks / Where Is Happy Monkey? — ISBN 9971-64-537-5.

Frank Brothers & Co. (India)

  • Introduction to Art (Volumes 1–5). Author & Illustrator: Geeta Vadhera. Foreword by N. C. Sen Gupta, Principal, College of Art, New Delhi. https://geetavadhera.in/books

Khaas Kitaab Foundation (Delhi)

  • One Carrot — Manorama Jafa (2006). Illustrated by Geeta Vadhera. ISBN 81-88236-24-4. https://isbnsearch.org/isbn/8188236244
  • Mina and the Red Egg — Manorama Jafa. Illustrated by Geeta Vadhera. ISBN 81-88236-23-3. https://isbnsearch.org/isbn/8188236236

Puffin / Penguin India

  • The Missing Parents Mystery — Ashok K. Banker (1994). Illustrated by Geeta Vadhera. ISBN 0140240721. https://penguin.co.in/book/the-missing-parents-mystery/

General / Non-Children

  • Gandhi’s Outstanding Leadership — P. A. Nazareth. Design & layout by Geeta Vadhera. https://www.worldcat.org/title/gandhis-outstanding-leadership/oclc/891095821

Archival References & Institutional Citations

  • Swiss Archives / International Documentation Centre for Modern Art (Zurich) — record on Geeta Vadhera (2025 update). https://ead.nb.admin.ch/html/gomringerd_D-05.html
  • Children’s Book Trust — official catalogue and bibliography. https://childrensbooktrust.com
  • National Book Trust (NBT) — publisher listing and catalogue. https://nbtindia.gov.in
  • Heinemann Asia / Joy Readers Series — WorldCat index listing (220052633). https://worldcat.org/oclc/220052633

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Sufi Inspiration in Art. Geeta Vadhera". Indian Horizons. Spring issue, pp. 38–42. Government of India publication. Available via Archive.org.
  2. ^ a b c Pao, Yee Mei (10 June 1988). "An artist's absolute view of the universe". The Straits Times. NewspaperSG archive. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  3. ^ a b c "Straight from the heart". Khaleej Times. 7 October 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  4. ^ "Archiv Eugen Gomringer – Übersicht Signatur D-05: Künstler und Künstlerinnen". Schweizerisches Literaturarchiv, Swiss National Library. Retrieved 2 October 2025.
  5. ^ a b Srinivasan, Radhika (13 May 1986). "Translating philosophy into pictures". The Straits Times. NewspaperSG archive. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  6. ^ a b Dass, Prabhavathi (23 October 1987). "Artist with a poet's heart". The Straits Times. NewspaperSG archive. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  7. ^ a b "Exhibition blends heart and nature". Gulf News (Tabloid!). 25 October 2011. UAE edition.
  8. ^ a b Hello! Middle East. 29 October 2011. UAE edition.
  9. ^ a b "City Times feature on Geeta Vadhera". Khaleej Times – City Times. 8 October 2011. UAE edition.
  10. ^ a b Al Bayan. 7 October 2011. (Arabic language coverage of Qalb Qudrat exhibition).
  11. ^ a b "Indian Literature in Translation (403EG21)". Acharya Nagarjuna University Centre for Distance Education. Unit 4.2.10 – Modern Indian Painting (lists Geeta Vadhera). [1]
  12. ^ a b "Geeta Vadhera: Indian Painter, Meaning Wordless". MeetingBenches. 2018. [2]
  13. ^ Shah, Zeeshan Jawed (2015). "Preserving Sufi Poetry through Visual Arts" (PDF). International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews. 2 (4).
  14. ^ Showker, Fred. "The Art and Visions of Geeta Vadhera". DT&G Magazine. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  15. ^ "Geeta Vadhera". Babele Arte. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  16. ^ Indian Book Industry. Sterling Publishers. 1989. p. 31.
  17. ^ "Run The World Events". Run the World. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  18. ^ "Super Achiever Awards". Bharat Nirman. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  19. ^ "Artist Bio – Geeta Vadhera". ArtWanted. [3] Retrieved 2023.
  20. ^ "Geeta Vadhera". ArtMajeur. [4] Retrieved 2023.
  21. ^ a b Pao, Yee Mei (10 June 1988). "An artist's absolute view of the universe". The Straits Times. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  22. ^ a b c Dass, Prabhavathi (23 October 1987). "Artist with a poet's heart". The Straits Times. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  23. ^ a b "Straight from the heart". Khaleej Times. 7 October 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  24. ^ a b Srinivasan, Radhika (13 May 1986). "Translating philosophy into pictures". The Straits Times. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  25. ^ Shah, Zeeshan Jawed (2015). "Preserving Sufi Poetry through Visual Arts" (PDF). International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews. 2 (4).
  26. ^ Showker, Fred. "The Art and Visions of Geeta Vadhera". DT&G Magazine. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  27. ^ "Geeta Vadhera". Babele Arte. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  28. ^ Indian Book Industry. Sterling Publishers. 1989. p. 31.
  29. ^ "Run The World Events". Run the World. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  30. ^ "Super Achiever Awards". Bharat Nirman. Retrieved 16 February 2022.