completed her Masters in Fine Arts at the Jamia Millia Islamia University in 1992 under A. Ramachandran.

The French Government sponsored her for a scholarship to study in Paris in 1993.

A recipient of the National scholarship for young emerging artists (1991-93) from the Government of India, she also received The Junior Fellowship (1995-97).

She has held several solo shows in Delhi {Palette Gallery} and Mumbai , {Chemould Presscott} over the past twelve years and has participated in prominent group shows across the country and overseas. Manisha has lectured at the National College of Art in Lahore, Indus Art College in Karachi. The Baroda Art College and her alma mater, Jamia Millia.For the last two years,she is jury to the Tun Foundation in Myanmar for one of their main art expositions.

Her works are in the collection of the National Galley of Modern Art , New Delhi

She talks eloquently about her work...”I draw freely from *Indian miniatures, murals and popular kitsch art*. The poetic use of decorative symbols and icons in rhythmic patterns is the very hallmark of our tradition. which extends even to the fields of music and dance. I too have used it extensively in my own work. But I place no restrictions on my self. Not even old Persian paintings, ancient Christian manuscripts or the Japanese edifices have escaped my canvas.

I don’t strive to communicate a political or social issue through my work. I paint because I love painting. My works are a chronicle of my experiences which serve both as a journal and a photo album. The *cosmopolitan, global urbanite* in me is able to invite not just James Bond and Elvis but even Darth Vader to perform on my canvas.”

Experiences are episodical – threaded together by a language, personalized through memories, beliefs and values. My works too are reflective of *distinct phases* of my life, each a separate chapter of an on going odyssey.

Manisha lives and works in Gurgaon.