Her advanced diploma in Textile, Graphics and Fashion Design honed her basic art skills, which ultimately led her to take up intricate pen art. The covid-19 pandemic gave Rachana the opportunity to create a portfolio of original pen art titled “Untamed Lines”, which she exhibited at India’s most prestigious Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai in August 2022. She has also exhibited her work at the World Art Dubai from 9th March to 12th March 2023 and Ramadan Colours Exhibition from 17th March to 17th April 2023 at Queen Elizabeth 2 Hotel, Port Rashid, Dubai.
Rachana is scheduled to hold two solo exhibitions - at Alserkal Avenue, Design District, Dubai from 5th to 10th December 2023 and at the prestigious Bikaner House, New Delhi in November 2024. She is also a verified and certified artist on COHART (www.cohart.com), a global immersive platform for the art trade.
Rachana is passionate about travelling and music and often combines the two.
Her advanced diploma in Textile, Graphics and Fashion Design honed her basic art skills, which ultimately led her to take up intricate pen art. The covid-19 pandemic gave Rachana the opportunity to create a portfolio of original pen art titled “Untamed Lines”, which she exhibited at India’s most prestigious Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai in August 2022. She has also exhibited her work at the World Art Dubai from 9th March to 12th March 2023 and Ramadan Colours Exhibition from 17th March to 17th April 2023 at Queen Elizabeth 2 Hotel, Port Rashid, Dubai.
Rachana is scheduled to hold two solo exhibitions – at Alserkal Avenue, Design District, Dubai from 5th to 10th December 2023 and at the prestigious Bikaner House, New Delhi in November 2024. She is also a verified and certified artist on COHART (www.cohart.com), a global immersive platform for the art trade.
WORK EXPERIENCE
Rachana Darda Design Studio, Mumbai — Proprietor & Principal Designer
MAY 2003 – MARCH 2009
Supplying Indian and Indo-western womenswear under my own label to many leading designer stores in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Chennai & Ahmedabad. Some stores include Ensemble, Ogaan, Fuel, Kimaya, Kali, Folio, Zenon, etc. Held a fashion show with India’s top models to showcase my collection.
Cleveland Museum of Contemporary Art, Cleveland, USA —
Associate
1999 – 2000
Work included organizing exhibitions and admin work.
Zeba Furnishing, Mumbai — Assistant Designer
1997 – 1998
Part of the design team for upholstery and furnishing product lines.
Sadguru’s, Mumbai — Freelance Artist
1991 – 1993
Worked as a commissioned artist to make and supply oil on canvas paintings.
EXHIBITIONS & SHOWS
Held maiden pen art exhibition in Mumbai
Aug 2022 – Exhibited the “Untamed Lines” collection of ink on paper art at India’s most premier gallery – Jehangir Art Gallery. The entire series was sold out.
Held two solo photography exhibitions in Mumbai
Oct 2017 – The Nine Fish Art Gallery, The Great Eastern Mill, Byculla, Mumbai
Mar 2016 – The Lodha Supremus, Dr. E. Moses Rd, Worli,Mumbai
Held two fashion shows in Mumbai
2006 – Regal Room, Hotel Trident, Nariman Point, Mumbai
2003 – Aakar Art Gallery, Breach Candy, Mumbai
EDUCATION
Sophia Polytechnic College, Mumbai — Advanced Diploma in Textile Designing (major in Printing)
JUNE 1993 – DECEMBER 1997
Awarded the “Best Campaign of The Year” in final year
MEMBERSHIPS
YPO Global Photography Network
The Photographic Society of India
Sony Photographic Society
Art Society of India
Bombay Art Society
OTHER COURSES & WORKSHOPS
2023 – Attended the global YPO Photography Network workshop by world renowned photographer Sandro Miller (USA) held at Malta & Sicily
2019 – Online course in Photography from Coursera (6 months)
2017 – Certificate course in Photography from leading Photographer Mr. Himanshu Sheth (6 months)
2001 – Diploma in Graphic Designing from Foothill College, Los Altos, California, USA (1 year)
2000 – Diploma course in Fine Arts from Cleveland Museum of Fine Arts (6 months)
1998 – Diploma in Photoshop and AutoCAD from Compufield, Mumbai (1 year)