Bhavna Mehta

Bhavna Mehta (born 1968) is an Indian-American visual artist specializing in cut paper and embroidery.[1] She has exhibited widely throughout Southern California and lives and works in San Diego, CA.

Early life

Mehta was born in Ahmednagar, India. At age seven she contracted polio, which forced her into a wheelchair.[2] She completed a B.A. in physics from Ahmednagar College in 1987 and a M.S. in electronic science at University of Poona in 1989.[3]

At age 22, Mehta immigrated to the United States.[2][3] In 1993, she earned a second master's degree, in computer science, from California State University, Northridge. She began working as a software engineer for Nokia in San Diego. She married George Cunningham, another software engineer, in 2000.[3] Laid off in 2006, she was soon hired by Motorola, but was laid off again in 2008.[2]

Having achieved a degree of financial security, she decided in 2008 to try a career as an artist. After exploring various media, she enrolled in a paper-cutting workshop led by paper artist Béatrice Coron at the Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina.[3]

Solo exhibitions

Awards
  • San Diego Art Prize, 2014[7]
  • Creative Catalyst Grant, San Diego Foundation, 2015[8][9]
  • Artists Activating Communities Grant, California Arts Council, 2016-2017

References
  1. "Paper Worlds: Bhavna Mehta". Vanguard Culture. 2017-01-04. Retrieved 2018-05-19.
  2. Schimitschek, Martina (2018-03-25). "Spring arts 2018: Meet visual artist Bhavna Mehta". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2018-05-19.
  3. Pincus, Robert L. (2016-04-19). "Bhavna Mehta and the Power of Paper". KCET. Retrieved 2018-05-19.
  4. "Culture Report: Paper Cuts You'll Actually Enjoy". Voice of San Diego. 2017-11-14. Retrieved 2018-05-20.
  5. Gaugh, Catherine. "'Gush' breaks out at Oceanside Museum of Art". sandiegouniontribune.com. Retrieved 2018-05-20.
  6. Morlan, Kinsee (2018-07-17). "Culture Report: A Living Artist Helps the Timken Come Alive". Voice of San Diego. Retrieved 2018-11-22.
  7. Hewitt, Lonnie Burstein. "Athenaeum Music & Arts Library exhibit celebrates 2014 San Diego Art Prize winners in La Jolla". lajollalight.com. Retrieved 2018-05-20.
  8. "Creative Catalyst Program". The San Diego Foundation. Retrieved 2018-05-19.
  9. "10 Local Artists Get Fellowships from San Diego Foundation". Times of San Diego. 2015-02-09. Retrieved 2018-05-20.
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