Dr. Sonal Mantri (H.C.), known in the artist world by her maiden name Sohnal V Saxena, is an engineer by education, but an Artist by God’s grace. She has trained under various master artists on Indian folk and tribal arts. She has also trained under Artist Ajay Samir in Fine arts for 1.5 years. In a world of shifting cultural identities, Sohnal V Saxena has made it her mission to celebrate the rich traditions of Indian folk art while simultaneously pushing the boundaries of contemporary painting. She is recognized as one of India's most innovative and exciting painter, known for her bold use of color, striking compositions, and deeply emotive themes. Her paintings tell stories of love and loss, hope and struggle, and the complex intersections of culture and identity in a rapidly changing world. She seamlessly weaves together the ancient and the contemporary, the rural and the urban, the personal and the political, creating works that are both timeless and timely. Sohnal V Saxena’s work is characterized by her use of Indian folk art and contemporary painting which she has honed over the years to create stunning, intricate works that are both visually stunning and emotionally evocative. She draws inspiration from a wide range of sources, including nature, history, Indian Traditions, folk lore, personal experiences, etc. and her paintings often reflect her deep connection to these themes. Her work has been exhibited in galleries and museums around the world and she has also been commissioned to create paintings for private collections and public spaces. Her works have also been featured as cover pages of books, and as illustration for poems. She has been a part of 2 guiness Book of world records, more than 200 exhibitons and several national and international awards. She has been awarded Honorary doctorate in Indian Traditional and Folk Arts by DaySpring University USA in 2022
