Born in 1980, Balaji Ponna completed his Bachelor’s degree in Graphics from Andhra University in Vishakhapatnam, and his Master’s degree in the same from Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan.
Balaji Ponna’s highly detailed canvases and smaller works on paper may seem undemanding at first. However, the artist employs clever images and snippets of text to subtly address sociopolitical issues, including those of class and corruption, which are prevalent across all levels of Indian society. He currently lives and work in Baroda.

--Fading Horizons--

"This series of works follows my continuing engagement with what could be called ‘human-scapes’. It is also the outcome of my concerns and comments about existing society. This series to me is a mirror of our dystopic times. With hatred and treachery becoming the norm of the day, the hope for a better life fades into oblivion. There will still be a future, but the question is what that future will be like. The harbingers of change are dark and visions are blurred in the search for humanity.
What is left in the end are the traces and adages of truths that can only be retold. If we can really listen to these simple truths, there probably is still a chance for the skies to get clearer. These dark clouds are, of course, the result of our human-inflicted calamities, both literally and metaphorically. The gloom which surrounds our humanity will erase the horizon of hope if we don’t go back to the fundamentals of equality. If we are to do anything it’s to look back into history and see why these structures, edifices and state institutions that talk about social justice and democracy were created. When personal greed and inhumanity becomes the culture of our society, we are on the brink of yet another collapse. History has proven that this collapse is most costly for the millions who are oppressed and dispossessed. Lamentation and guilt after chaos leads to nothing but the spiraling and prolongation of the sickness and mental disease in society. What this series pleads for the viewer to notice is the death and decay that’s seemingly imminent.
What I put across and suggest for us all is to pick up those simple commonsensical markers which can lead us somewhere better. Like the shadow that follows even an optically impaired person however oblivious he is of that fact, the effects of our inhuman and unconcerned deeds follow us everywhere to remind us of our impending doom."

-Balaji Ponna

Balaji Ponna currently lives and works in Baroda India. He received his BFA in Graphics from Andhra University and his MFA in Graphics from Bharati University. His art has been exhibited widely in India, and has also been shown in New York, Hong Kong and Verona.

Education

M. F. A. (Graphics) From Viswa Bharti University Shantiniketan.
B. F. A. (Graphics) From Andhra University, Visakhapatnam. A.P.

Mobile : +91 9824768179 Email. : balajiponna@gmail.com

Solo Exhibitions

2020 - “ When nothing goes right, Go left” curated by UMA NAIR, at Art Centrix Space, New Delhi
2017 - “Blues Browns and Greens” At Gallery Art District xiii, New Delhi
2015 - “The Mirror has no heart” at Art District xiii, collaboration with The Guild art Gallery, in New Delhi
2011 - “Looking is not seeing" solo show in The Guild art gallery, Mumbai
2011 - “Monuments" a solo project at India Art summit by the guild at gallery Mumbai at New Delhi.
2010 - "The things I say, “A solo show at Studio la citta, Verona, Italy
2009 - ‘Black Smoke’, at Bose Pacia & the Guild, Mumbai at Bose pacia-Kolkata.
2007 - "UNTITLED"- Osmosis Art gallery, Mumbai

Two-men show:

2019 - “Mirrored Questions”A Two men show in Art District xiii, New Delhi

Exhibitions & Participations

2024 - Simisha studios group show in MS university Gallery. Baroda
2023 - The far edge of the frowning forest an group show curated by Jitha karthikeyan at Gallerie splash New Delhi.
2023 - 1x1x9 an group show oragnaised by Vis-a -Vis art gallery & studios at MSU Baroda
2023 - A room full of phools group show at Champatree art gallery, New Delhi
2023 - Foot prints an group show at Post card Mandalay hall kochi by Art district xiii New Delhi
2023 - whose memories? Whose archives? an empirical survey group show curated by Om Soorya at a kalakriti art gallery
Hyderabad
2022 - code-decode group show in MS University gallery, Baroda
2022 - QR codes -decode show at Hutheesing art center, Ahmedabad
2022 - Sculpture group show at SJ art gallery South Korea
2022 - International painting travelling exhibition in Nepal, India, South Korea, Lithuania, Ukraine, USA
2021 - Gallery inaguration group show at SJ Art gallery South Korea
2021 - Group show at NYB gallery Washington USA
2021 - Six contemporary Indian artists - by The Circle online at New Delhi
2021 - “Baroda Annualle-I” at Gallery WHITE, Baroda.
2021 - “ Hibernation Celebration”- an group show at NYB GALLERY, Krikland, WASHINGTON
2021 - “ Myth,Memory,& Marvellous Realities” an group show at KALAKRITI ART GALLERY, HYDERABAD
2020 - ANDHRA AESTHETICS by Foundation of Arts and Culture, Bhopal curated by V.Ramesh
2020 - Broken foot- Unfolding inequalities- by Rumi Samadhan, Prabhakar kamble at Mojo art.
2020 - SOLILOQUIES- An a group show[ online] by Anant art, New Delhi