Kiran Soni Gupta is known as prolific artist showcasing her artworks across the country in different galleries and in prominent museums outside India. She is based in Jaipur, Delhi and New York. Art happened to her at very young age that was self-motivated and without any formal training in art she continued to practice art with several mediums like oils, watercolour, charcoal, pencil experimenting with several subject areas producing a huge number of artworks year by year. She has been always very passionate to create drawings, sketches and paintings which she is regularly showcasing in her solo shows in India and abroad.
As artist I was introduced to Kiran Soni Gupta in 2016 by senior artist Late R K Yadav as she was organizing an artist camp at Kurukshetra, Haryana. Actually, not only that she has been an artist herself but she always connected with many artists and their works for her art events. She supported many artists with great opportunities every year as she planned different kinds of art events being an IAS officer. Her loving nature towards all artists and deep interest in art touched all fellow artists including me. She is an officer of the 1985 batch of the Indian Administrative Service from Rajasthan. She was the Director of West Zone Cultural Centre Under the ministry of Culture till January 2024. She was also the Director General of Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaipur which is a leading visual and performing arts cultural center in India. Besides being a development practitioner and policy maker in her office she has been diligent art practitioner, writer, curator, sculptor and enthusiastic photographer to satisfy her creative urge. She exhibited her works nationally and internationally in places such as Boston, Chicago, Syracuse, London, Iran, Sri Lanka, Ottawa, Toronto and many cities in India.
As a very senior experienced artist Kiran Soni Gupta held her retrospective exhibition titled ‘An Art Odyssey’ showcasing her artworks in different mediums at Living Traditions Centre (LTC Gallery), Bikaner House, India gate, New Delhi from 24th to 29th October 2024. Her show was inaugurated by the former Governor of Rajasthan Shri Kalraj Mishra, who offered a long statement regarding the value of art and culture for a country. He said that respect towards art in integral part of Indian culture. Promoting art and artist for their contribution in every possible way is our duty. During the inauguration many artists, media personalities and common viewers were present. Chief Election Commissioner of Rajasthan Madhukar Gupta and many other dignitaries, eminent guest graced the occasion. As this was her 60th solo show. She has exhibited her works at more than forty art institutions of which 24 shows were international. Her artworks ‘NREGA’, ‘Puja Times’ and ‘Shelters’ were exhibited at Louvre Museum Paris in 2012, 2013 and 2017 respectively.

The passion for art came to artist Kiran Soni Gupta from her sister who used to do oil painting. One day young Kiran tried her hand with sister’s oil colours and made a portrait painting on paper which was appreciated by her sister. That was her first interaction with art. Her studies and civil service exams somewhat made her busy in academics but when she was posted in Kerala in 1986 as IAS officer, she started pursuing art again and used to create oil paintings. She never stopped painting after that. Her first solo exhibition was held in 2001 at Taj Bombay for two days. That exhibition was so successful that brought her confidence and since then till today she regularly had solo shows and participated in several group shows. Her paintings on the ‘Famine’ won her the national award and she has been honoured with ‘Indian Iconic Women’s Award 1019′.
Her recent show at Bikaner House attended many art lovers, viewers and senior artists namely Padma Shri Biman Das, Jatin Das, Padma Shri Jaya Rama Rao and others. In this exhibition a selected collection of her works was displayed. The oldest artwork was from 2011 and the newest was from 2024. The show included watercolours, oil and acrylic paintings, charcoal works. Some of her works are inspired by folk style and other traditional art techniques. She is presently full time artist exploring art with her never-ending creative spirit and enthusiasm. — By Saswati Chaudhuri