Laxmipriya Panigrahi's journey of introspection through watercolours

On a hot afternoon, Laxmipriya Panigrahi, a national awardee from Greater Noida West for painting, retraces her artistic journey from the city of culture, gods, nature, sculpture, and various age-old painting styles in Odhisha to the capital.

For Laxmipriya, the rich colours of the fields in Odhisha became an inspiration to pursue painting. Everything Laxmi saw around her inspired her to pick up a canvas, and watercolours to paint. Young Laxmi found herself captivated by the natural scenery.

Laxmipriya  Panigrahi received the national award in April 2022 from the Lalit Kala Academy, New Delhi, by the Vice President of India for her art on the topic. 'It’s enough for me to be sure that you and I exist at this moment.'

She is best known for her miniature-inspired surreal landscapes, which show existence and hope. She says that our existence is an ocean and every now and then, we must dive into it. She uses canvas, canson paper, and watercolours, uses wash techniques, and lines as her technique of work.

Laxmi says, "I believe that the whole observation of my practice reflects both the inner and outer surface of mother nature. Everything present in nature, the path of my journey, the way I exist, and the knowledge of my inner self is reflected by the trees, stone, grass, men and women, animals, or the entire cosmos. Therefore, my art is the union of the universe with the self."

Growing up, recreating images from magazines, papers, and albums became her hobby when she was in class three. Her interest in drawing and painting grew, and her mother arranged a home drawing tutor for her in class eight. However, she left painting after school thinking of it as a tedious career choice.

Laxmipriya says, "At first, I pursued my graduation with economic honours, but when your roots are deeply connected to something, that thing pulls you back, and colours called me back." Laxmipriya then pursued her graduation bachelor of visual arts B.V.A(Painting) in Baleshwar art and Crafts College, 2013 and Post-graduation in fine arts M.V.A (Painting), at Utkal University in 2015, Odisha. She adds that Patachitra had a great influence on her mind.

Just after completing her master's in 2015 and after a year of job in Orissa, Laxmi's desire to be a great artist led her to the national capital in 2017, after lying to her father that she had got a junior fellowship for her art. And she worked so hard that after a year in Delhi she got the junior fellowship. Currently, she is working at Kaladham society in Greater Noida.

Her work led her to various exhibitions such as 'Malhar', curated by Chhavi Jain, Anant Art, Delhi, India in 2020., (Telling Tales-A Journey into Narrative Forms) in Bikaner House, Anant Art, Delhi, India in 2020., The Times of India Design Festival, Taj Palace, New Delhi, India in 2020, Goa Affordable Art Fest, Museum of Goa, Goa in 2018, Emerging Canvas-V, Indo–Korean Young Artist, and many more to count.

She has also received a silver Kalakand Grant in a painting by the Prafulla Dahanukar Art Foundation in 2021, the Odisha State Award, Prafulla Dahanukar Art Foundation, India in 2019, The Emerging Artist Award, and the 91st AIFACS award for painting, New Delhi in 2018.

Laxmipriya is grateful for her parent's support in her creative endeavours. "I was always motivated to find my existence in this world and that is what I suggest to every woman."