Be it wielding art or administration Kiran Soni Gupta has excelled in both. She is presently Divisional Commissioner Jaipur
and also internationally acclaimed artist. With confluence of myriad interests she is soul searching artist, prolific writer, an avid traveler and an activist administrator.

Her most recent successful exposition” The Great Indian Desert” at Hyderabad and “Incredible India: Life in Color” at Ottawa in 2009 were the most defining moment in her art journey that has given her art depth and breadth much more than any other professional artist. A book” Beyond Strokes” and “Kiran’s Art Renderings” based on her artworks was launched by Times of India.

She has been honored with a number of prestigious awards like the “Artist of the year-2009” “Achiever of the Year-2009” and ‘Kala Shiromani’ award in 2008. Her painting on ‘Famine’ depicting its impact on women & children won her the National Award in 2003. Her artwork "Matters of Heart” was applauded in the All India Exhibition- 2004.

Ever since she joined the Indian Administrative Service her career has chartered many distinguished positions in the
Government of India, Rajasthan and Kerala. The creativity that she brings alive on her canvas is deeply related to humanity
and its concerns. The artwork portrays her convictions on issues of women, children, poverty, development and environment. It is the heart-felt sensitivity, empathy, keen observation and an abounding faith in humanity that lends distinction to her art
works. Her encounters with the lives of people from close quarters and accompanying complex human problems and conditions has been a constant source of inspiration for art.

Kiran’s art work has been internationally celebrated at Ottawa, California, New York, Cambridge, Syracuse, Toronto, Chicago, London, Iran and Sri Lanka. At home Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Kullu and Ludhiana, Hyderabad have witnessed the splendour of her art expositions. She continued learning and teaching traditional Indian art while being at Harvard taking traditional Indian art to greater heights. Her artworks auctions in Cambridge by Akshaya Patra realized her vision of art for social cause. Her successful exposition “Beyond Strokes” at the International Roerich Memorial Centre, Kullu was huge success. She is a visiting artist at the East West Centre, Hawaii and has also won the Valparaiso Foundation Fellowship Mojacar, Spain for 2009 & Centrum Residency in US. She also participated in the World Art Expo in US in June 2009. For her the truth rings in words of Paul Klee, “A single day is enough to make us a little larger or, another time, a little
smaller’.

Artist's Profile
Kiran Soni Gupta is a robust artist, prolific writer and an activist administrator. She is presently Divisional Commissioner, Jaipur in Rajasthan. Committing herself to public services in 1985 she had distinguished assignments in the Government of India, Kerala & Rajasthan. Her commitment and passion led her to study public policy and development at the Maxwell School Syracuse and the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University where she was a Mason Fellow in 2005-06. Her concerns about various contemporary issues have been expressed regularly in her writings in many national/ international newspapers/journals.

Kiran’s creative outpourings are at its best with brush strokes. Her works reflect not only her conviction on issues of women, children, poverty, development and environment, but also her sensitivity, keen observation, and also, an abounding faith in humanity. Kiran has given new dimensions to art forms, both traditional and modern through her wideranging artworks- diverse in themes, style and media. Creativity with colors and experimentation has given her work depth as well as impact. Deriving the best from her assignments in different regions of India from the tropical forests and beaches of Kerala and the desert scrublands of Rajasthan have provided her opportunities to explore the nature and human mind.

This exposure finds expression in her landscapes in oil, water colors and also mixed media. The iconic influence of the spirituality of her surroundings is seen in many of her paintings in the Tanjore style. She is equally deft in graphics, pen & ink sketches and pencil work. Kiran's association with well known artists & masters has led her to some of her best etchings, wood cuts, linocuts, lithography & calligraphies. Of late she has produced a series of more than two dozen works titled the 'God’s Finest Creation “reflecting various qualities of women. She strongly believes that God is the greatest artist and his best creation is women. She perceives the inner beauty of women investing each artwork with a meaning and a message. She organized the “Kala Kumb" through community support in March 2003 that attracted a congregation of 150 artists from all over the country.

Her works have been exhibited at different national/international events more recently at Ottawa, California, New York, Cambridge, Syracuse, Toronto, Chicago, London, Iran and Srilanka. More recently she had her exhibit “Celebration of Life” at Jaipur and “The Great Indian Desert” at Hyderabad. “Beyond Strokes” at Roerich International Memorial Centre, Naggar, Kullu and “Desert Symphony” at Cottage Art Gallery, New Delhi were very well received. Her painting” Monsoon Love” has be shortlisted for the Annual Award2010 and her paintings on the “Famine" depicting its impact on women and children in India, won her a National Award in 2003. Another painting the “Matters of Heart" was commended in the All India Fine Arts Exhibition. She was also a visiting artist at the East West Centre, Hawaii. Her artworks auctions in Cambridge in 2007 for raising charity for children’s food and education have helped her in realizing her vision of art for social cause. She also won the Valparaiso Foundation Fellowship, Mojacar, Spain for 2010 and Centrum Residency 2009. She has been recently honored with the “Kala Smridhi Award”2010.

The Times of India has brought out a book” Beyond Strokes” and “Art Renderings” based on her selected artworks. She is now the distinguished recipient of the “Achiever of the Year 2009” and also the “Artist of the Year 2009” She believes that man’s soul is the architect of history and that art is the manifestation of man’s soul & reflection of human identity. Art is unbounded and recognizes no constraints. Her artworks auctions in Cambridge for raising charity for children’s food and education have helped her in realizing her vision of art for social causes. In modern times, art is playing a dominant role in bringing about social change transcending borders and minds. Art is the domain of the dialogue between civilizations and cultures; it can speak in a loud and penetrating voice. Art is most often seen as pleasing the eye - creating beauty. Yet the idea of beauty, like that of truth, is most challenging in the present day.

If something moves you to an understanding, somehow unreachable for you, by the common paths of words and reason, it's Art for you. Art is not for the sake of anything…. each art work in its own right depicts the image of the soul of the artist and the society at large. Art is a human activity which has as its purpose the transmission to others of the highest and best feelings to which men have risen. For her the truth rings in words “To wake the soul by tender strokes of art" - Alexander Pope


Viewpoints:

“ I am deeply impressed by her talent……. Her contribution has enriched Indian Civil Service and Indian art equally….
K M Chandrasekhar, Cabinet Secretary Govt of India

“She has creatively used her administrative experiences as expressed through the visual language….. its all powerful, moving and convincing”
SM Gavai India’s Consul General to Ottawa 

“I am deeply impressed with her interest in art besides her very demanding professional life. Her renderings  in watercolors are highly impressive and will enable her to achieve greater heights.”
Pavan K Varma, India’s Ambassador to Bhutan

“The power, the passion and the deep sensitivity with play of colors never fails stir my deepest emotions…….
Gowher Rizvi
"..........I was deeply touched with her works on the issues relating to women, poverty, environment and particularly her paintings like "Mother and Child", Hidden Me", "Secret Marriage", "Reflections", "Fire" etc.  Her Tanjore paintings seeped in spirituality and mythology also leave a deep impact on the human mind.  Her best etchings, woodcuts, linocuts, lithography and oils speak volumes on her artistic sense and abilities...." 
Padamshree Ram V.Sutar,
Sculptor

Extremely good works of art….  Padamshree P Sripathy

Her works rightly depict the rural Rajasthan in its true colors……. Subhash Babu

“It is a show in which the wide range of themes and styles portrays an active & searching mind with a meticulous concern for craft……. evidence of her organizational abilities as much as of her devotion to art.”
                                                                                            Prof. Ashley Halpe, Srilanka

"........She has been sincerely devoting herself creatively acquiring the technical skills of many traditional & modern art forms.  Her achievements as painter are amazing......"         
Chinmaya Mehta
Ex Chairman, Rajathan Lalit Kala Academy

“The vibrancy and versatility in Kiran’s art easily engages an onlooker. I appreciate her mission to link art with social cause……”
Mary Hart
“Kiran has effectively interwoven her world of art and administration. An underlying sensitivity and an empathetic attitude along with creativity places her in an extraordinary category of an accomplished artist and a successful administrator….”
Matilde de Fabregart

“Her work is truly beyond strokes……. Much more to unravel beyond lines and contours”
Alena Adamakova, Curator Roerich  International Centre, Naggar Kullu

 “Her work demonstrates both mastery in technique and sensitivity & empathy of social issues.  Has potential to promote art in big way.”
 Jatin Das

“Her depiction & presentation of Rajasthan themes is enchanting.”                                                                                        Manu Parekh

 “We were immediately struck by the artist’s freedom of expression as demonstrated by her many different styles and techniques.  The walls were virtually covered by a synthesis of traditional Indian art and the contemporary style of a truly accomplished portrait painter.  Interspersed between bright, colorful works in the Tanjore and other traditional Indian styles were many almost parched, desert scenes of Rajasthan and powerful portraits of its people.”
                                                                       Daisy Campbell, Srilanka 

 "........She has beautifully portrayed her experiences in the field particularly women's issues.  The sensitivity and spontaneity is reflected in her ink drawings, etchings, linocuts and oil work.   Achieving perfection in every technique without any formal training is certainly a creditable achievement....."          
R.D.Pareek.

".......the grace of the artist is reflected in the traditional art which has roots in Indian culture.  It looks as if all styles of traditional art forms would be recreated in future.............It also reflects her enthusiasm to achieve definite heights in her life......"     
Shamendu Sonavane.

"......Her paintings cover a wide range both in terms of themes & medium.  She does Paintings in Stained Glass, Tanjores, Oils, Graphics and Mixed Media.  She is quite competent in figurative, abstracts, landscapes but her fort is doing popular deities which create deep spiritual feelings in the minds of viewers. Her Art has roots in the Indian soil..."         
 S.S.Hitkari.
,
A very creative and bureaucrat and promising artist……… T Vaikuntham
She is quite versatile in her choice of themes & treatment. Many of her renderings are very skillfully done and with passion. Her Rajasthan series show her deep acquaintance with the subjects… Chandan Khan IAS