Chitra Ramanathan

Chitra Ramanathan or Chitra, is an Indian American contemporary visual artist and educator^[1] living in the United States, mainly known for her predominantly abstract mixed media paintings. Her body of work visually portrays happiness.^[2][3][4] Many of the fine artist’s original works, mainly in the acrylic paint mediums are created in expansive scales, as well as panel paintings as diptychs or triptychs. Her ongoing works are distinct with the treatment of fresh colors, and collage characterized by intricately interwoven textures that glow to express the concept of happiness and expression of joy.^[5][6][7]

Chitra Ramanathan
Born	Chitra Subramanyam, Parvati (Given name) Trivandrum, India
Nationality	Indian-American
Alma mater	University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Occupation(s)	Contemporary visual artist, Painter

Chitra Ramanathan completing a commissioned site-specific mural project at Indianapolis in 2008.

Early life

Chitra Ramanathan was born as Chitra Subramanyam (given name, Parvati) in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, South India, to Sarasa and L.N.Subramanyam.^[8] She started doodling, painting, and crafting with clay at a young age.^[9][10] By the age of twelve, she had won a number of coloring-in awards from corporate sponsors including Hindustan Unilever Limited.^[11][4] Her paintings had also been presented at the Birla Academy of Arts and Culture in Kolkata, India.^[12]

Education and artistic career

After completing high school at Good Shepherd Convent, Chitra Ramanathan received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Madras, at Stella Maris College in Chennai, India. She graduated with honors from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign School of Art and Design earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Painting in 1993 and a Master of Business Administration at the Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1997.^[13][14][3] She completed artist residencies at the Camac Centre d’Art in Marnay-sur-Seine, France, in 2010, and the Scuola Internazionale di Grafica, Venice, Italy, in 2012.^[15]

Ramanathan's career debuted in 1995 through art galleries situated on Soho Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, with solo and group art exhibitions of her paintings.^[16] Her work has been exhibited across the United States in galleries and academic institutions including the Florida International University, ARC Gallery, Butler University, Indianapolis Art Center, Vero Beach Museum of Art, Indianapolis Artsgarden, University of Illinois Foundation, and College of Medicine, Illinois.^[2][17] Manhattan Arts, New York, described her paintings as "tactile works that resonate with a quiet harmony" and "reflects the spirituality of her culture". The artist's academically influenced working process, including large-scale installations and commissioned originals evolves continually with each developing piece. While an artist member of the College Art Association, she served in CAA’s Services to Artists Committee from 2003 to 2006, and the Committee for Diversity Practices from 2007 to 2010.^[5][18]

In October 2004, a pair of large-sized paintings created by Chitra Ramanathan commissioned by MGM Mirage, now MGM Resorts International were installed in the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas.^[19][20] Among her other public-art projects was a 13.8-foot-wide (4.2 m) mural painting commissioned by Crooked Creek Elementary School, Indianapolis, Indiana completed in 2008, and large-scale paintings created in varied dimensions displayed in Monument Circle, Indianapolis in 2006 a public art initiative by the Arts Council of Indianapolis titled "Picture Windows 2006: Urban Interpretations".

 

Windows 2006 Urban Interpretations – Chitra Ramanathan site-specific Public Art installation at Monument Circle, downtown Indianapolis

^[21][22][23]

In 2005, she was invited to the Royal Academy of Arts, London, where she gave a visual presentation of her series of abstract paintings and conducted student tutorials at the Royal Academy Schools during the academic visit.^[24][25][26]

Selected Book/Journal publications:^[27]

Books:

• International Dictionary of Artists – Artists' Reference Book, First Edition, 2011. Museum quality. Language: English. Full Color. Size: 10" x 13" inches or 25 x 33 cm.Hard cover. Curator: Despina Tunberg. Publisher: World Wide Art Books

• Lemonidou, Eve; Antoniadou, Olga (2010). International contemporary artists. New York, N.Y.: ICA Publishing. ISBN 978-960-93-2298-0

• Biography, Marquis Publications Who's Who in America 2008, 62nd Edition

• "The Artists Bluebook 2004", Directory of American Artists from the 16th Century to August 2004"- by Lonnie Pierson Dunbier, editor,www.askART.com "Books on this artist".

• Publication: "Abstracts", a publication of the College Art Association "World Art: A Panhuman Narrative for Egalitarian Teaching" Co Chair, Art History Session: Presentation: "World Art: A Panhuman Narrative for Egalitarian Teaching" by Barbara Nesin and Chitra Ramanathan, Committee on Diversity Practices- College Art Association (http://www.collegeart.org/) 96th Annual Conference, Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas, USA 2008.

References

1. "Vero Beach Abstract Artist Chitra Ramanathan is an Arts Educator, Muralist and Public Art Creator". PRLog Press. 2018-09-07.
2. "The Elegant & Peaceful Abstract Art of Chitra Ramanathan". Miami Art Scene™. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
3. Pacheco, Della. "Creative pursuit of happiness: Paintings give form to the ephemeral". Indianapolis Business Journal. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
4. "Chitra Ramanathan – I Began to Create My Work as a Fusion of Monet's Impressionism and Expressionism, Choosing Happiness as My Theme (Artist from Georgia, USA)". Eat My News. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
5. "Chitra Ramanathan – TurningArt". www.turningart.com. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
6. Alex, Adrian; er (2016-12-18). "Chitra Ramanathan". Professional Artist Magazine. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
7. "Chitra Ramanathan – Professional visual artist interview by Silicon India". Silicon India.
8. "Chitra Ramanathan and the definition of happiness – 32963 Features, Arts". Vero News. 2014-08-28. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
9. "Chitra Ramanathan". IndyArtsGuide.org. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
10. Art Link interview with Chitra Ramanathan, retrieved 2022-06-09
11. "ART Habens Art Review, Biennial Edition by ART Habens – Issuu". issuu.com. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
12. "YICCA | Chitra Ramanathan". yicca.org. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
13. "Chitra Ramanathan – Norcross Gallery and Studios". norcrossgalleryandstudios.org. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
14. "ArtSpecifier: Biography by Joyce Creiger, Art Specifier, Boston, Massachusetts, USA: Linking artists with designers, architects, art consultants, worldwide". www.artspecifier.com. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
15. Alex, Adrian; er (2016-12-18). "Chitra Ramanathan biography with slideshow of originals from body of work". Professional Artist Magazine. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
16. "Chitra Ramanathan's profile | British Art Club". www.britishartclub.co.uk.
17. Correspondent, Holley Calmes Staff. "ART BEAT: Norcross gallery welcomes spring with new exhibition, Aurora Theatre features shows and camps and an Aquatic puppet circus". Gwinnett Daily Post. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
18. "Chitra Ramanathan Art Educator Biography Profile". www.Quinlanartcenter.org. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
19. "Featured Alumni-Chitra Ramanathan". uiaaan.illiniclub.org. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
20. "Chitra Ramanathan | Commission for MGM Resorts International, Las Vegas – CODAworx". www.codaworx.com. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
21. GO Visual Arts, Indianapolis Star, July 28, 2006:Article: "City walkers get art views" – "Picture Windows Project makes galleries out of public spaces" by S.L.Berry
22. "Art of the Matter | College of Fine + Applied Arts". faa.illinois.edu. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
23. "Paintings of Chitra Ramanathan". Art.Base. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
24. "ArtConnect". www.artconnect.com. Retrieved 2022-06-09.
25. | "Chitra Ramanathan, interviewed by Audra Weinstein, Publication, ISSUU, Autumn September, 2022. Pages 18-19/36".
26. "Chitra Ramanathan, Body of work".
27. "Book publications".