Sonaly Gandhi is a Hyderabad-based contemporary figurative artist known for her emotionally charged paintings that explore intimacy, gender equality, and the evolving language of human relationships in the twenty-first century.

Her practice is anchored in a profound admiration for the human form, a fascination that began in childhood after encountering the famous sculpture “David” by Michelangelo, an experience that left an enduring imprint on her imagination. That early moment of awe evolved into a lifelong engagement with anatomy, expression, and the silent eloquence of the body, shaping her identity as a primarily figurative artist. While she has explored diverse subjects, the human figure remains her most instinctive and intimate language.

Central to her work is a deeply held commitment to gender equality. Sonaly’s canvases consciously foreground women as strong, self-aware, and emotionally complex, while acknowledging the historical imbalance that has shaped gender relations. Rather than portraying conflict, her paintings examine tenderness, negotiation, vulnerability, and mutual dependence: offering a nuanced visual discourse on how love and partnership are being redefined in a rapidly changing world. Many of her narratives draw from her own life and the lives of those closest to her, transforming personal memory into universally resonant imagery that invites viewers to see fragments of their own stories reflected on the canvas.

Working predominantly in acrylic on canvas, Sonaly is recognized for her meticulously balanced compositions and a distinctive visual vocabulary in which her subjects are veiled with precise geometric motifs: squares, checks, and butterflies. These forms serve as metaphors for the modern individual’s pursuit of equilibrium and perfection within the imperfect terrain of love and companionship. By intentionally removing attire, ornamentation, and markers of identity, her figures transcend boundaries of culture and geography, emerging as universal embodiments of intimacy and connection. This synthesis of emotional immediacy and symbolic structure sets her practice apart within the contemporary figurative landscape.

Her artistic philosophy has been shaped by pioneering modernists such as Amrita Sher-Gil and Anjolie Ela Menon, whose fearless explorations of the human condition affirmed her commitment to candid storytelling through figuration. Sonaly extends this lineage through a distinctly contemporary lens, combining formal restraint with emotional accessibility.

Sonaly’s work has received significant international recognition. She has exhibited at major global platforms including ArtExpo New York, Miami River Art Fair, Paris Art Fair, and respected galleries across Europe, alongside prominent showcases in leading Indian galleries. Her paintings are held in distinguished private collections worldwide and have been acquired by noted collectors and interior designers across continents. She maintains a strong presence on premier international art platforms such as Artsy, Artfinder, Artmajeur, Fine Art America, and Saatchi Art, reflecting sustained global engagement with her practice.

Her works have been featured in newspapers, publications, and curated exhibitions, affirming her growing influence as a distinctive voice in contemporary figurative art. Beyond exhibitions, she actively engages with collectors and audiences through conversations that encourage deeper emotional connection with art.

What distinguishes Sonaly Gandhi is her ability to transform lived experience into universal visual poetry. Her canvases do not merely depict figures; they explore the fragile spaces between individuals where memory, desire, trust, and silence converge. Through her evolving body of work, she continues to create paintings that are at once deeply personal and widely resonant: quiet yet powerful meditations on intimacy, equality, and the enduring human need to belong.