Shachi Kale:
A Survey: 2003-2023

b. Mumbai, India; lives in Chandler, AZ
Opened April 2, 2023

EXHIBITION CURATOR STATEMENT

phICA is pleased to present a 20-year survey of the work of Shachi Kale (b. Mumbai, India; lives and works in Chandler, AZ). In addition to being an accomplished Visual Artist, Shachi is a graphic designer and children's book illustrator. She often works in watercolor but frequently utilizes other media such as fibers/textiles, collage, and printmaking. Recently, she has ventured into a public art practice with commissions completed for the cities of Tempe and Chandler. Since 2016, her professional trajectory has been nothing short of amazing, with museum and gallery exhibitions, work placements in private and public collections, and strong social media followings, primarily on Instagram and Facebook.

She is also an excellent writer, one who draws the reader into her work and life with words and images. Read her own words below about her professional practice in art and design:

Shachi Kale is a visual storyteller. Her art is an exploration of her inner dialogue and desert surroundings. In this collection, titled Conversations with Myself II, she is attempting to capture her constant inner monologue. In a year that forced the world to retreat indoors, she retreated even further into her inner world and in this series of works, she examines the complex and evanescent thought patterns and emotions that make their way through her subconscious. The inner dialogue moves and shifts as it grapples with anxiety, grief, despair, hope, optimism and healing. To convey the complex and layered nature of these emotions, she has employed the tactile dimensionality offered by fiber, fabric, beads, pressed flowers, clay and burnt paper.
In her practice, Shachi uses gouache, watercolors, acrylics, embroidery, and digital arts. She is fascinated by folk art from around the world, the artists’ use of flat colors, simple perspective, and storytelling. She is also drawn to Indian miniature art and the patterns and decorative elements used in them. The vibrant and rich colors of her palette are a legacy of her Indian heritage, and the narrative elements are an influence from her work as a children’s book illustrator and designer.
You can follow her explorations and journey on instagram @shachidreams, or visit her webpage shachikale.com, or email her at shachidesign[at]gmail.com.

The phICA Virtual Exhibitions Initiative is made possible through the generous support of Arizona Commission on the Arts/National Endowment for the Arts, City of Phoenix Office of Arts and Culture, Laurie and Tom Carmody/The Carmody Foundation, Brendan Mahoney and Gordon Street, Bobby Walker and Michael L. Zirulnik, Erin Hubbard, and Ted Decker Catalyst Fund.

Download Exhibition Curator Statement