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

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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

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Awards

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  • 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

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  1. ^ "Paper Worlds: Bhavna Mehta". Vanguard Culture. 2017-01-04. Retrieved 2018-05-19.
  2. ^ a b c Schimitschek, Martina (2018-03-25). "Spring arts 2018: Meet visual artist Bhavna Mehta". The San Diego Union-Tribune. Retrieved 2018-05-19.
  3. ^ a b c d 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.