A brilliant colorist, Nayanaa Kanodia, an economist turned painter, is considered to be the pioneer of l’Art Naïf in India, a genre until then unseen and unheard of in a contemporary context. She has since established a rare niche for herself in this very particular mode.

Nayanaa’s paintings are in public and private collections all over the world. She is represented by some of the best galleries both in India and overseas and her work features in several auctions of Indian Contemporary Art internationally.

Having won the National Scholarship of the Government of India, she completed her graduation from Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi with an Honours Degree in Economics.

Nayanaa is an entirely self-taught artist except for a year-long apprenticeship with Anjolie Ela Menon - one of India's leading contemporary artists. Having had a French leave of absenteeism from formal training in art enabled Nayanaa Kanodia to bring patterns of strong individualism into her work long before it was considered the sought-after approach for unique and contemporary artists of today.

Underscored by her self-taught education, Nayanaa Kanodia’s journey is a story of talent, passion and vision.

In 1998 she was chosen from among artists of all The Commonwealth Countries by The Commonwealth Institute to have a solo show to inaugurate their newly renovated Complex in London.

Based on the contribution she had made to L 'Art Naif she was invited by the world renowned Victoria and Albert Museum in London, UK in 2001 to demonstrate her painting techniques and exhibit her paintings in their gallery.

She is the first Indian whose paintings are part of Paintings in Hospitals collection in the UK.

Her works are permanently displayed at Musée L'Art Naif Max Fourny - Halle Saint Pierre in Montmartre in Paris,France.

Impressed by the social messages being conveyed in her paintings, a consortium of schools in Los Altos, USA,is using her work as a medium of instruction to their students.

The famous author, Erica Jong has recently acquired her work.

Nayanaa’s paintings feature in a recently published international book ‘Women in Art’ by Reinhard Fuchs. Nayanaa considers it a great honour to be selected amongst the world’s most talented female artists.

She was also honoured with an award by Megh Mandal Sansthan, Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India in 2016.

She has recently been appointed as a juror for PrismaArtPrize in their Rome Dividere in Europe. She is the first Indian on their panel which is a great honour not only for her but also for her country.

She has conducted numerous Art Camps in India and abroad - Bangkok, Cambodia, London, Moscow, St. Petersburg, multiple cities in Italy, Athens, Mykonos in Greece as well as

Finland, Norway, Sweden.

She has a teaching experience of two decades and was on the faculty of Spic Macay International. She gives talks and presentations on art in prestigious organizations and universities. In addition, she has been a judge in many art events, art fairs and art competitions.

Nayanaa closely works with many charities and NGOs. She supports Indian Cancer Society, which is the oldest cancer society in India and is affiliated with Tata Memorial Hospital, and curates the art shows that are staged on the Society’s Annual Founder’s Day.

She is also closely associated with other organisations: Concern India, Khushi, People for Animals , Wildlife SOS and Nargis Dutt Foundation.

Nayanaa has held several solo shows and participated in innumerable group shows nationally as well internationally. The major international art shows are

Nayanaa’s works can be distinguished by an air of whimsy, flat bright polished surfaces, vibrant and dynamic colours and extraordinary plethora of intricately worked details, patterns and shapes. The freshness and charm of the images she creates gives a crystalline utopian appearance to the sometimes mundane everyday life being depicted. Her paintings are reflections on the charming idiosyncrasies of her subjects with a fine degree of wit and gentle satire.

Nayanaa has portrayed India’s transforming culture as no other artist has done before, on such a huge time frame. Many pieces reflect that unkempt maelstrom of changes that has engulfed the society, providing fuel to a mind-bending dichotomy where, on one hand, people tenaciously cling to their roots, fearing the extinction of their cultural identities, and, on the other, the birth of a new generation dependent upon progressive conveniences can be witnessed.

Although inspired by India’s past and present, Nayanaa through her paintings aims to draw the viewers’ attention to the social issues that all of the economically and socio-culturally transforming nations face: the need to protect the environment which is unsustainably exploited to fuel the economic growth, women empowerment, social equality, to name just a few.