Sulakshana Devidas Dharmadhikari is a contemporary Indian visual artist whose work bridges the quiet beauty of the natural world with the nuanced emotional landscapes of human experience. Born in Pune, Maharashtra, in 1975, she initially pursued a Diploma in Digital Electronics, but her lifelong passion for painting ultimately guided her creative path.

From her earliest years, Sulakshana was captivated by the rhythms of nature and the subtle interplay of emotion in everyday life. She found particular inspiration in the themes of femininity, the serene movement of flora and fauna, and the metaphoric resonance of natural forms. Over time, this deep-seated curiosity blossomed into a mature artistic practice focused on capturing both the external world and the inner workings of feeling.

Sulakshana’s paintings are characterized by fluid compositions and rich textural surfaces that evoke the delicate grace of petals, the gentle dance of butterflies, and the serene depths of lotus ponds. Whether through vivid colour or restrained tonal harmony, her work invites viewers to pause and reflect on the quiet beauty that surrounds us.

Working primarily in oil on canvas, she continually experiments with form and mood, allowing her brushwork to respond intuitively to colour and light. Her artistic voice speaks to a meditative connection with the world, both seen and felt, and underscores her belief that art can be a space of solace, wonder, and emotional resonance.

Artist's write-up for her paintings:
For nature paintings
Since ancient times, humans have always been inspired by Nature. Earlier, we lived very close to Nature in villages. Because of higher education, marriage, or better opportunities, people had to leave behind their hometowns and settle in the cities' concrete jungle. However, we often feel the urge to get close to Nature. Sometimes we coax ourselves into telling everything is okay by traveling, writing poetry, and painting. Everything on this earth is made of five elements. Humans are no exception. All the components in Nature, like colors, shapes, birds, and animals, have always inspired me. Especially the flowers and the gracefully wandering butterflies. Their beautiful colors have always fascinated me. That is what I've tried to depict through my painting. I've chosen oil on canvas as my medium. Through this, I've been able to portray the softness of flowers, butterflies' flexibility, and the texture of leaves.

For monotone

When we venture into our lives with baby steps initially and later run and juggle through life, we lose track of our life's mission or goal due to various obligations. Sometimes, facing insurmountable difficulties, we lose hope. Suddenly, there is a faint light blinking at the end of the tunnel.

We get inspired by that; light is called "Hope". This light is always beside us, though invisible, slowly nudging us to move forward, just one step at a time. This striking bit of light, hope, I tried to capture in my painting, like blue, red, and yellow in the backdrop of various shades, is grey and black. Those colors are just a reminder that, however bleak the situation is, there is always hope.

Sulakshana Dharmadhikari

Visual Artist | Pune, Maharashtra, India

Available Artworks by Sulakshana Dharmadhikari