Maya Varadaraj's interdisciplinary practice engages South Asian material culture to redefine feminine narratives and representations. Her aesthetic vocabulary references familiar materials such as; vintage advertisements, popular calendar illustrations, and classic image-making techniques such as painted photographs.
Varadaraj received her Bachelor's of Fine Arts in Apparel Design from the Rhode Island School of Design before completing a Master's Degree at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Varadaraj's work has been exhibited internationally at Vitra Design Museum, Museo Del Disseny Barcelona, Salone De Mobile, Mana Contemporary New Jersey, and Assembly Room New York. She has been featured in publications such as Juxtapoz, and We Make Money Not Art. She is currently based in New York City.
EDUCATION
2015 — 2017 The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (MDes)
2007 - 2011 The Rhode Island School of Design (BFA)
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2019 The Woman and The Machine , Mana Contemporary, Jersey City, NJ
2017 Khandayati, Block 37, Chicago, IL
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2018 — 2023 Victor Papanek: The Politics of Design, Curated by Amelie Klein, Vitra Design Museum, Weil Am Rhein, DE
2019 Interior Landscapes, Curated by Natasha Becker, Julia Topchiy, Paola Gallio, Assembly Room, New York, NY
2019 Visiting Curator Exhibition, Curated by Sophia Marisa Lucas, Center for Emerging Visual Artists, Philadelphia, PA
2019 Artist in Fellowship Group Show, The Living Gallery Outpost, New York, NY
2019 Booth G10 with Compass Needle, Superfine! Artfair, New York, NY
2016 Chuck It, Block 37, Chicago, IL
2016 Whatnot Milan, Spazzio Rossana Orlandi, Milan, IT
AWARDS & RESIDENCIES
2019 Mana Exchange Residency, Miami, FL
2019 Compass Needle x Wet Paint NYC Artist in Fellowship, New York, NY
2017 Design Council Award Recipient , Chicago, IL
2017 Edes Award Nominee, Chicago, IL
2016 Eager Grant Award Recipient, Chicago, IL
2015 — 2017 New Artist Society Merit Fellowship Recipient, Chicago, IL
FEATURES & LECTURES
2019 Artist Feature, Brownhistory
2019 http://www.thecnnekt.com/spotlight/2019/4/16/maya-varadaraj-artist
2017 http://we-make-money-not-art.com/khandayati-turning-objects-of-oppression-into-spinning-weapons/
2017 What is Your Practice? Lecture, Neiman Center, Chicago, IL
To schedule a studio visit or inquire about available works please
visit https://www.artfare.com/maya-varadaraj or email mjvarad@gmail.com