NEW YORK, NY.- Shwetlana Mehta tackles the darker side of the human psyche in her art. She isn’t afraid to take on darker subject matter, nor does she shy away from uneasiness. Her muses are mystery, silence and the transient nature of dreams.

“Fragmented Memories” marks Shwetlana’s first solo exhibition. She is a visual artist from Mumbai, India, currently based in New York City. Shwetlana graduated from The School of Visual Arts in New York during 2023 and has earned a Bachelor degree in Fine Arts.



Shwetlana’s first solo exhibition, “Fragmented Memories,” took place in New York City at the Temple Gallery, February 3rd - 5th 2024. (Temple Gallery, 108 Madison Street, NY, 10002). Shwetlana has previously been in several group exhibitions to great acclaim.

Shwetlana showcased 13 oil paintings, 12 oil on canvas and 1 oil on wood. “Fragmented Memories” was filled with imagery that represented her personal narratives, creating a sense of mystery and quiet. These "psychological spaces" symbolize the inaccessible memories within the human psyche, whether repressed, forgotten, or part of the unconscious mind. The paintings displayed were produced in 2023 and early 2024.



Shwetlana made use of a limited color palette: hues of blues and blush pinks. The soft colors combined with the fragmented body parts in the paintings bring forward the elusive idea of death, decay, and dreams. Her art is often inspired by surrealist films and researching psychological texts.

Present at the opening reception on February 3rd 2024 were two well-known artists from Shwetlana’s community: sculptor and photographer Petah Coyne and conceptual feminist photographer Kathy Grove. The event was well attended by art enthusiasts.



Shwetlana Mehta can be found working on a new body of work for the new year of 2024. Many subjects are a loose extension of themes explored in “Fragmented Memories”, as well as the exploration of new subject matter.

You can follow Shwetlana Mehta on Instagram for updates on her art and future exhibitions.

About the Author

E. Rose Bailey is a freelance writer covering culture and the arts. As a parent of artists, she’s lucky to have a home filled with art.