Born in 1979 in Kolkata, Simrin Mehra-Agarwal currently lives and works in Milan and New Delhi. She has completed a BFA and an MFA in Painting from the Delhi College of Art and obtained a diploma in Photography from Triveni Kala Sangam in Delhi. She is the recipient of the French government scholarship and artist-in-residence programme 2007-2008. She also received the national scholarship from India’s Department of culture 2004-2006 and Nokia Arts Award Asia Pacific in 2000-2001.
A descendant of the royal family of Jhargram that has a legacy spanning 500 years, Mehra-Agarwal grew up hearing stories of her family’s past glory, power and wealth. Her work examines the history and transitional phase of royalty from grandeur to decline, from medieval to the post-colonial era, from monarchy to democracy.
She has participated in a number of workshops and residencies including Tate Modern in London, INSA Art Centre in Seoul and the World Trade Centre at Jakarta. She has held solo shows in Milan and Dubai and has participated in group shows in Singapore, Bangkok, Bangalore, London, Vienna, New York and Dubai.