Anjolie Ela Menon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Anjolie Ela Menon
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| Born | 17 July 1940 Burnpur, Bengal Presidency
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| Nationality | Indian |
| Alma mater | Miranda College University of Delhi École des Beaux-Arts The Lawrence School Sir J.J. Institute of Applied Art |
| Known for | Painting |
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Notable work
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Yatra, Looking Out of a Window, Acolyte, Portrait of a Young Actor, The Magician Story |
| Awards | Padma Shri (2000) Kalidas Samman for Visual Arts (2018) |
Anjolie Ela Menon, born on July 17, 1940, is one of India's most important modern artists. Her beautiful paintings are shown in many big collections. These include the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) and the Peabody Essex Museum. In 2006, her painting called "Yatra" was bought by the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco.
Anjolie Ela Menon often uses oil paints on a special board called masonite. But she also creates art using other materials. These include Murano glass, computer graphics, and watercolors. She is also very well known for painting large pictures on walls, called murals. In 2000, she received the Padma Shri award, which is a high honor in India. She lives and works in New Delhi.
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Early Life and Art Journey
Anjolie Ela Menon was born on July 17, 1940, in Burnpur, India. Her parents were from different backgrounds, one Bengali and one American. She went to school at Lawrence School, Lovedale in the Nilgiri Hills. By the time she was just 15 years old, she had already sold some of her paintings!
After school, she studied art briefly in Mumbai. Then, she earned a degree in English literature from Delhi University. While studying, she was inspired by famous artists like Amedeo Modigliani and Indian painters like M. F. Husain and Amrita Sher-Gil.
When she was 18, Anjolie had her first solo art show. She displayed 53 paintings in many different styles. From 1959 to 1961, she received a scholarship from the French Government. This allowed her to study at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. She traveled a lot in Europe and West Asia. She studied old art styles like Romanesque and Byzantine art.
Her Amazing Artwork
Anjolie Ela Menon loved to use oil paints on masonite boards. She would apply many thin layers of see-through colors. Besides oil paintings and murals, she also worked with computer graphics and Murano glass. In 1997, she showed some non-figurative art for the first time. This included abstract paintings inspired by Buddhist ideas.
She has shown her art in many important international events. These include the Paris, Algiers, and São Paulo Biennales. She also took part in three Triennales in New Delhi. Anjolie Ela Menon has held over 35 solo shows. She has also been part of many group shows in India and other countries.
In 2000, the Government of India gave Anjolie Ela Menon the prestigious Padma Shri Award. This is one of the highest awards for civilians in India. In the same year, she became a trustee for the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts. She was the only visual artist to ever be chosen for this role.
In 2002, a big exhibition called 'Four Decades' showed her work. It was held at the National Gallery of Modern Art in Mumbai. This collection then traveled to other major cities in India. Her life and art have been featured in many books and films.
Personal Life
Anjolie married her childhood sweetheart, Raja Menon. He was an officer in the Indian Navy who later became a writer. They have two sons and four grandchildren. Since her marriage, she has lived and worked in many places. These include India, the US, Europe, Japan, and the former Soviet Union. She also enjoys collecting art from other artists. Some of these artists include F. N. Souza, Jamini Roy, and Ram Kumar.
Awards and Recognition
Anjolie Ela Menon has received many important awards for her art:
- 2000: The Padma Shri, which is the fourth highest award for civilians in India.
- 2010: She was honored by the Limca Book of Records.
- 2013: She received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Delhi State Government.
- 2018: She was given the Kalidas Samman for Visual Arts. This award is from the Madhya Pradesh government.
Art Shows
Anjolie Ela Menon has had over thirty solo art shows. These shows took place in many different cities around the world. Some locations include London, Bonn, Washington, and Moscow. She also had many shows in India, in cities like New Delhi, Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay.
In 1988, a special exhibition looked back at all her art over the years. She has also been part of many international shows. These were held in France, Japan, Russia, and the USA. Her artworks are not only in private collections but also in museums in India and other countries.
