Shipra Bhattacharya was educated at Calcutta University (B.Sc.), followed by formal art studies at the Government College of Art and Craft and the College of Visual Arts in Kolkata under the guidance of artist Subhaprasanna, whom she later married. Her first solo exhibition was held in Kolkata in 1981, and she has since been featured in numerous shows in India and abroad. Her critically acclaimed ‘Desire’ series and related works, including "She," continue to address women’s issues, aspirations, and identities—often portrayed as being at ease, content, and independent from the male gaze.
She beautifully exemplifies Bhattacharya’s signature style, blending the mystical and the feminine with rich symbolism and detailed ornamentation.
At the center of the composition is a woman seen from behind, her body a canvas within a canvas becoming a stage for vivid imagery: a yellow lion, large flower-like forms, a central red mandala, and a tree growing vertically along her spine, the roots of which hug her side. These symbols evoke power, fertility, inner strength, and possibly spiritual or mythic themes rooted in Indian iconography. Notably, two human eyes peer out from her waist, hinting at an awakened, watchful inner self or subconscious presence.
Surrounding her are elements of a lush, dreamlike environment, tropical trees, birds, a lotus pond, and a distant village hut, all rendered in a stylized, decorative manner. These motifs are typical of Bhattacharya’s interest in connecting the female form with nature and the cycles of life. A red-orange tree at the top right seems to radiate energy, while the blue and green hues of the background provide a sense of twilight or spiritual calm.
The composition is full of fine patterns, rhythmic textures, and a folk-art-inspired flatness, drawing influence from traditional Indian miniature and tribal art, yet interpreted through a contemporary, introspective lens.