Nilisha Phad is a Mumbai-based contemporary artist whose figurative practice examines the psychological dimensions of portraiture and the complexities of human identity. Influenced by her early studies in psychology, she approaches painting as a means of exploring the emotional landscapes that exist beneath outward appearances, creating portraits that reveal vulnerability, resilience, and the fluid nature of selfhood.
A graduate of Sir J. J. School of Art, Mumbai, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts with First Class Distinction in 2018, Nilisha later completed a Master of Fine Arts specialising in Portraiture. Her work is informed by the practices of Lucian Freud, Francis Bacon, and Jenny Saville, whose uncompromising engagement with the human figure has influenced her own pursuit of psychological depth and painterly expression.
Nilisha has presented her work in solo exhibitions including Pluralities at Kamalnayan Bajaj Art Gallery, Mumbai, and has participated in numerous national exhibitions. Her practice has received significant international recognition through prestigious awards and grants, including the Hyundai Art for Hope Grant (2026) and multiple Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Grants from Canada.
Through richly layered surfaces and emotionally charged portraiture, Nilisha creates works that challenge conventional notions of identity, inviting viewers to engage with the complexities, contradictions, and inner narratives that shape the human experience.
