Skip to content

ANJUM SINGH

My earlier work was about the city—its skin, its surface, the damage beneath. The shift from the body of the city to my own body was very natural.

ANJUM SINGH

Anjum Singh - Artists - Talwar Gallery

Flower But Not, 2015-16  Watercolor, graphite & dry pastels on paper

In 9 parts, each 32.75″ x 25.5″ x 1.5″ (detail)

Anjum Singh’s works highlight her interest in systems of order, movement, and exchange, from her early works of urban metropolises to her later works that focus on internal structures. Over the course of her career, Singh’s works transitioned from the reflection of the changing urban human condition to the changing of her own condition. Her early works explore themes of how environment shapes and is shaped by its inhabitants. After her cancer diagnosis, Singh’s works shifted to looking internally. In works such as those in Masquerade (2015), she uses gridded lines and richly patterned surfaces to map a bodily self that is at once rigidly organized and yet unpredictable—a complex architecture transformed into a living organism. And by the time of her exhibition I Am Still Here (2019), Singh brings into view the intricate systems, the currents, flows, exchanges—as well as points of breakdown—that occur continuously within this internal realm, displaying a fluid movement from fully textured canvases to ethereal, delicate forms floating on paper. Those deeply introspective depictions thus extend her long-standing concern with systems—urban or bodily—making them not only structures to be observed but experiences to be lived.

Singh invites us to look inside the body with its inscrutable materiality

ARTINDIA


The heart itself feels like a gadget. That mix of machinery and the body, the mechanical and the cellular, continues in my work.

ANJUM SINGH

Her muse was always the city - her city, which ironically, she interrogated like a body.

BUSINESS STANDARD

Anjum Singh brings a ritual of repetition to the way she painstakingly builds her surfaces.

MEERA MENEZES 

Anjum Singh - Artists - Talwar Gallery

Anjum Singh’s practice spanned a deep engagement with both external and internal landscapes, tracing connections between the urban environment and the body. Over time, her works shifted from explorations of the city and its ceaseless movement to intimate reflections on her own physical condition, rendered with sensitivity and resilience. Through these transformations, Singh invited viewers to consider the fragile yet vital systems that sustain life, and to look more closely at the unseen rhythms that shape our existence.

Her works have been exhibited at The San Jose Museum of Art, California; National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi, India; The Prince of Wales Museum, Mumbai, India; Asian American Art Center, New York, NY and the 7th International Cairo Biennale, Cairo, Egypt. Her works are in the collection of the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), New Delhi, India.

Anjum Singh was born in 1967 in New Delhi, India. As the only child of artists Arpita and Paramjit Singh, Anjum was surrounded by art from an early age. In 1989 she earned a BFA at Kala Bhavan, Santiniketan, before receiving an MFA from College of Art, New Delhi in 1991. Later she continued her education at The Corcoran School of Art in Washington D.C., when she took courses on printmaking and painting between 1992–94, she began to incorporate organic forms, colors, and textures into her paintings. In 2002, she received the Charles Wallace Fellowship, and took a year-long artist residency at Gasworks, London. After a six-year-long battle with cancer, she passed away in 2020 in New, Delhi, India.

Selected Works

Selected Works Thumbnails
Mean Machine, 2016
Oil on canvas
72″ x 84″
TG 4111
Mean Machine
Mean Machine (Detail)
Mean Machine, 2016
Oil on canvas
72″ x 84″
TG 4111

Mean Machine, 2016
Oil on canvas
72″ x 84″
TG 4111

Belly Button, 2018
Oil on canvas
36″ x 60″
TG 4106
Belly Button
Belly Button (Detail)
Belly Button, 2018
Oil on canvas
36″ x 60″
TG 4106

Belly Button, 2018
Oil on canvas
36″ x 60″
TG 4106

Broken, 2018
Oil on canvas
36″ x 72″
TG 4107
Broken
Broken (Detail)
Broken, 2018
Oil on canvas
36″ x 72″
TG 4107

Broken, 2018
Oil on canvas
36″ x 72″
TG 4107

Still against white, 2018
Oil on canvas
30″ x 30″
TG 4109
Still against white
Still against white (Detail)
Still against white, 2018
Oil on canvas
30″ x 30″
TG 4109

Still against white, 2018
Oil on canvas
30″ x 30″
TG 4109

Alien, 2018
Oil on canvas
60″ x 30″
TG 4108
Alien
Alien (Detail)
Alien (Detail)
Alien, 2018
Oil on canvas
60″ x 30″
TG 4108

Alien, 2018
Oil on canvas
60″ x 30″
TG 4108

Turbulence, 2018
Oil on canvas
72″ x 36″
TG 4114
Turbulence
Turbulence (Detail)
Turbulence (Detail)
Turbulence, 2018
Oil on canvas
72″ x 36″
TG 4114

Turbulence, 2018
Oil on canvas
72″ x 36″
TG 4114

Cobweb in my head, 2018
Watercolor pencil and graphite on paper
32.75″ x 25.5″
TG 4115

Cobweb in my head, 2018
Watercolor pencil and graphite on paper
32.75″ x 25.5″
TG 4115

Remarkable Unremarkable, 2015-2018
Watercolor, graphite and dry pastels on paper
15″ x 11.75″ (Each of 24 parts)
TG 4121
Remarkable Unremarkable (Detail)
Remarkable Unremarkable (Detail)
Remarkable Unremarkable (Detail)
Remarkable Unremarkable (Detail)
Remarkable Unremarkable (Detail)
Remarkable Unremarkable (Detail)
Remarkable Unremarkable (Detail)
Remarkable Unremarkable (Detail)
Remarkable Unremarkable (Detail)
Remarkable Unremarkable (Detail)
Remarkable Unremarkable (Detail)
Remarkable Unremarkable (Detail)
Remarkable Unremarkable (Detail)
Remarkable Unremarkable (Detail)
Remarkable Unremarkable (Detail)
Remarkable Unremarkable (Detail)
Remarkable Unremarkable (Detail)
Remarkable Unremarkable (Detail)
Remarkable Unremarkable (Detail)
Remarkable Unremarkable (Detail)
Remarkable Unremarkable (Detail)
Remarkable Unremarkable (Detail)
Remarkable Unremarkable (Detail)
Remarkable Unremarkable (Detail)
Remarkable Unremarkable, 2015-2018
Watercolor, graphite and dry pastels on paper
15″ x 11.75″ (Each of 24 parts)
TG 4121

Remarkable Unremarkable, 2015-2018
Watercolor, graphite and dry pastels on paper
15″ x 11.75″ (Each of 24 parts)
TG 4121

Blackness, 2015-2017
Watercolor, graphite and dry pastels on paper
32.75″ x 25.5″ (Each of 4 parts)
TG 4123
Blackness (Detail)
Blackness (Detail)
 
Blackness (Detail)
 
Blackness (Detail)
Blackness, 2015-2017
Watercolor, graphite and dry pastels on paper
32.75″ x 25.5″ (Each of 4 parts)
TG 4123

Blackness, 2015-2017
Watercolor, graphite and dry pastels on paper
32.75″ x 25.5″ (Each of 4 parts)
TG 4123

Heart (Machine), 2016
Oil on canvas
60″ x 36″
TG 4112
Heart (Machine)
 
Heart (Machine) (Detail)
 
Heart (Machine) (Detail)
Heart (Machine), 2016
Oil on canvas
60″ x 36″
TG 4112

Heart (Machine), 2016
Oil on canvas
60″ x 36″
TG 4112

Untitled, 2016
Oil on canvas
72″ x 72″
TG 4611

Untitled, 2016
Oil on canvas
72″ x 72″
TG 4611

Untitled, 2016
Oil on canvas
48″ x 48″
TG 4607

Untitled, 2016
Oil on canvas
48″ x 48″
TG 4607

I Am Pink, 2016
Watercolor pencil on paper
10″ x 7″
TG 4116
I Am Pink
I Am Pink, 2016
Watercolor pencil on paper
10″ x 7″
TG 4116

I Am Pink, 2016
Watercolor pencil on paper
10″ x 7″
TG 4116

Flower But Not, 2015-16
Watercolor, graphite & dry pastels on paper
In 9 parts, each 32.75″ x 25.5″ x 1.5″
TG 4104
Flower But Not (Detail)
Flower But Not (Detail)
Flower But Not (Detail)
Flower But Not (Detail)
Flower But Not (Detail)
Flower But Not (Detail)
Flower But Not (Detail)
Flower But Not (Detail)
Flower But Not, 2015-16
Watercolor, graphite & dry pastels on paper
In 9 parts, each 32.75″ x 25.5″ x 1.5″
TG 4104

Flower But Not, 2015-16
Watercolor, graphite & dry pastels on paper
In 9 parts, each 32.75″ x 25.5″ x 1.5″
TG 4104

Bleed Bled Blood Red, 2015
Oil on canvas
72″ x 72″
TG 4601

Bleed Bled Blood Red, 2015
Oil on canvas
72″ x 72″
TG 4601

Bleed Bled Blood Red, 2015
Watercolor pencil & graphite on paper
In 3 parts, each 18 3/4″ x 15″
TG 4122
Bleed Bled Blood Red (Detail)
 
Bleed Bled Blood Red (Detail)
Bleed Bled Blood Red (Detail)
Bleed Bled Blood Red, 2015
Watercolor pencil & graphite on paper
In 3 parts, each 18 3/4″ x 15″
TG 4122

Bleed Bled Blood Red, 2015
Watercolor pencil & graphite on paper
In 3 parts, each 18 3/4″ x 15″
TG 4122

At 4 O’Clock, 2015
Watercolor pencil on paper
12.13″ x 9″
TG 3630

At 4 O’Clock, 2015
Watercolor pencil on paper
12.13″ x 9″
TG 3630

Untitled, 2014
10.25″ x 7″
TG 3615

Untitled, 2014
10.25″ x 7″
TG 3615

Cut, 2014
Watercolor pencil on paper
9″ x 12″
TG 3628

Cut, 2014
Watercolor pencil on paper
9″ x 12″
TG 3628

Roots etc., 2014
Watercolor pencils and dry pastel on paper
10″ x 7″
TG 3614

Roots etc., 2014
Watercolor pencils and dry pastel on paper
10″ x 7″
TG 3614

It roars, 2014
Watercolor, ink and dry pastel on paper
10″ x 7″
TG 3618

It roars, 2014
Watercolor, ink and dry pastel on paper
10″ x 7″
TG 3618

The Skin Remembers, 2010
Paper stickers and acrylic on fiberglass
TG 4967

The Skin Remembers, 2010
Paper stickers and acrylic on fiberglass
TG 4967

FLY, 2002
Oil on canvas
70″ x 90″
TG 1097

FLY, 2002
Oil on canvas
70″ x 90″
TG 1097

PURE WATER - EIGHT GLASSES & A QUARTER, 2002
Oil on canvas
72″ x 90″
TG 1096

PURE WATER - EIGHT GLASSES & A QUARTER, 2002
Oil on canvas
72″ x 90″
TG 1096

Mean Machine, 2016
Oil on canvas
72″ x 84″
TG 4111

Mean Machine, 2016
Oil on canvas
72″ x 84″
TG 4111

Belly Button, 2018
Oil on canvas
36″ x 60″
TG 4106

Belly Button, 2018
Oil on canvas
36″ x 60″
TG 4106

Broken, 2018
Oil on canvas
36″ x 72″
TG 4107

Broken, 2018
Oil on canvas
36″ x 72″
TG 4107

Still against white, 2018
Oil on canvas
30″ x 30″
TG 4109

Still against white, 2018
Oil on canvas
30″ x 30″
TG 4109

Alien, 2018
Oil on canvas
60″ x 30″
TG 4108

Alien, 2018
Oil on canvas
60″ x 30″
TG 4108

Turbulence, 2018
Oil on canvas
72″ x 36″
TG 4114

Turbulence, 2018
Oil on canvas
72″ x 36″
TG 4114

Cobweb in my head, 2018
Watercolor pencil and graphite on paper
32.75″ x 25.5″
TG 4115

Cobweb in my head, 2018
Watercolor pencil and graphite on paper
32.75″ x 25.5″
TG 4115

Remarkable Unremarkable, 2015-2018
Watercolor, graphite and dry pastels on paper
15″ x 11.75″ (Each of 24 parts)
TG 4121

Remarkable Unremarkable, 2015-2018
Watercolor, graphite and dry pastels on paper
15″ x 11.75″ (Each of 24 parts)
TG 4121

Blackness, 2015-2017
Watercolor, graphite and dry pastels on paper
32.75″ x 25.5″ (Each of 4 parts)
TG 4123

Blackness, 2015-2017
Watercolor, graphite and dry pastels on paper
32.75″ x 25.5″ (Each of 4 parts)
TG 4123

Heart (Machine), 2016
Oil on canvas
60″ x 36″
TG 4112

Heart (Machine), 2016
Oil on canvas
60″ x 36″
TG 4112

Untitled, 2016
Oil on canvas
72″ x 72″
TG 4611

Untitled, 2016
Oil on canvas
72″ x 72″
TG 4611

Untitled, 2016
Oil on canvas
48″ x 48″
TG 4607

Untitled, 2016
Oil on canvas
48″ x 48″
TG 4607

I Am Pink, 2016
Watercolor pencil on paper
10″ x 7″
TG 4116

I Am Pink, 2016
Watercolor pencil on paper
10″ x 7″
TG 4116

Flower But Not, 2015-16
Watercolor, graphite & dry pastels on paper
In 9 parts, each 32.75″ x 25.5″ x 1.5″
TG 4104

Flower But Not, 2015-16
Watercolor, graphite & dry pastels on paper
In 9 parts, each 32.75″ x 25.5″ x 1.5″
TG 4104

Bleed Bled Blood Red, 2015
Oil on canvas
72″ x 72″
TG 4601

Bleed Bled Blood Red, 2015
Oil on canvas
72″ x 72″
TG 4601

Bleed Bled Blood Red, 2015
Watercolor pencil & graphite on paper
In 3 parts, each 18 3/4″ x 15″
TG 4122

Bleed Bled Blood Red, 2015
Watercolor pencil & graphite on paper
In 3 parts, each 18 3/4″ x 15″
TG 4122

At 4 O’Clock, 2015
Watercolor pencil on paper
12.13″ x 9″
TG 3630

At 4 O’Clock, 2015
Watercolor pencil on paper
12.13″ x 9″
TG 3630

Untitled, 2014
10.25″ x 7″
TG 3615

Untitled, 2014
10.25″ x 7″
TG 3615

Cut, 2014
Watercolor pencil on paper
9″ x 12″
TG 3628

Cut, 2014
Watercolor pencil on paper
9″ x 12″
TG 3628

Roots etc., 2014
Watercolor pencils and dry pastel on paper
10″ x 7″
TG 3614

Roots etc., 2014
Watercolor pencils and dry pastel on paper
10″ x 7″
TG 3614

It roars, 2014
Watercolor, ink and dry pastel on paper
10″ x 7″
TG 3618

It roars, 2014
Watercolor, ink and dry pastel on paper
10″ x 7″
TG 3618

The Skin Remembers, 2010
Paper stickers and acrylic on fiberglass
TG 4967

The Skin Remembers, 2010
Paper stickers and acrylic on fiberglass
TG 4967

FLY, 2002
Oil on canvas
70″ x 90″
TG 1097

FLY, 2002
Oil on canvas
70″ x 90″
TG 1097

PURE WATER - EIGHT GLASSES & A QUARTER, 2002
Oil on canvas
72″ x 90″
TG 1096

PURE WATER - EIGHT GLASSES & A QUARTER, 2002
Oil on canvas
72″ x 90″
TG 1096

Video