Komal Madar (b. 1983) is a British Indian multidisciplinary artist based in London. Her practice spans painting, sculpture, and performance. Madar's work is concerned with materials and their materiality through an anthropological lens, drawing on ritual, memory, representations of femininity, and embodied labour. She combines traditional and self-developed techniques to meticulously craft her sculptures using discarded textiles and humble materials. Repetitive gestures characterise her work, relating to the potent tension between notions of exploratory play and the concept of lila (divine play) - and the ordering principles enacted in her engagement with materials.
​
In 2023, as Director, Madar helped establish the West London Society of Art, a non-profit organisation, supporting local talent in an inclusive and dynamic artistic community. She was interviewed by Vogue India (2023) for an editorial publication to discuss her place within a progressive contemporary art landscape, highlighting her evocative Yoni textile sculptures. In 2025, Madar curated the group exhibition Traces for the Liverpool Independents Biennial. In 2024, Madar was invited to exhibit in the Miniature Postage Stamp Masterpiece group show with Nippon Gallery, India. The travelling exhibition toured Bangalore, Kolkata, ending in Monalisa Kalagram gallery in Pune, Maharashtra. In 2025 She produced Sari Forest, a large-scale immersive installation and performance project accompanied by a weekend programme of participatory workshops. This was informed by her work as an Educator and Therapeutic art coach. Madar is deeply interested in curatorial strategies that explore spiritual and embodied forms of participation rooted in care. ​
Photo credit: Julian Todd
Education and Qualifications
2025 | Liverpool John Moores University, MA Fine Art
2011 | Institute Of Education, PGCE Art & Design, London
2008 | Byam Shaw School of Arts, Post Graduate Diploma, Fine Art, London
2007 | The University Of Reading, BA, Fine Art & English Literature
2003 | Central Saint Martins, Foundation Studies, London
​
Solo Shows
2025 | Talisman, Liverpool Independents Biennial, Bridewell Studios & Gallery
2025 | Sari Forest, DoES Liverpool
2025 | Materiality in Motion, Exhibition Research Lab: Snapshot 10: John Lennon Art and Design Building, LJMU
2024 | The Opening: Yoni as a Symbol of Sacredness and Strength, The Glass Pencil Gallery, Stockley Park, Uxbridge
2018 | Visions of Colour: Hyatt Place Hotel, London
Group Exhibitions (selected)
2025 | Traces, Liverpool Independents Biennial, The Bakery Studios & Gallery
2025 | Monuments of Memory, Stable Gallery, St George's Hall, Liverpool, Independent Degree Show
2025 | Expand, X gallery, John Lennon Art and Design Building, Liverpool John Moores University
2024 | Conjure, X gallery, John Lennon Art and Design Building, Liverpool John Moores University
2024 | Nippon Gallery, Miniature Postage Stamp Masterpieces, (travelling exhibition) India, Bangalore, Kolkata & Pune, Maharashtra
2023 | Arachne Press: Ten Years of Book Cover Art, Stephen Lawrence Gallery, London
2023 | Flux, 178 St James - Piccadilly, London
2022 | Holy Art Gallery, Ways of Seeing, London
2021 | Flux, Design District, London
2019 | Artrooms Roma: Church Palace Hotel, Rome
2019 | Flux: National Army Museum, London
2018 | Artrooms Roma: Church Palace Hotel, Rome
2017 | FLUX: Chelsea College of Arts, (UAL)
2017 | La Galleria Pall Mall: Shortlisted for the Royal Arts Prize, London
2016 | La Galleria Pall Mall: Royal Arts Prize Exhibition, London
2015 | Pall Mall Galleria, summer group show, London
Projects/residencies
2024 | Indian miniature painting, Self-directed residency, Jaipur
Public Commissions/Projects (selected)
2022 | Homegrown, Feltham Fete, Arts Council England, Creative people and Places, and London Borough of Hounslow
2021 | Love Ealing Love Local, Community Project, England European Regional Development Fund
2019 | Our Hayes Our Heritage Project, Hillingdon Council, London
​
Selected Achievements
2025 | John Moores Painting Prize, Stage 2 selection (from over 3,000 entries)
2025 | Shorlisted, Factory International Artist Takeover
2025 | Shorlisted, Soup Liverpool, Sari Forest Project
​
Press & Publications
2025 | Materiality in Motion, Art in Liverpool
2024 | 7 Top Female Artists Defining Modern Indian Art, Desi Blitz
2023 | Come and See, Editorial feature, Vogue India
2023 | Komal Madar’s 'Yoni' Textile Art Celebrates The Feminine Power Of Vaginas, Homegrown
2015 | Off the Wall, World of Interiors
2015 | Design Report, World of Interiors
2015 | Room Revolutions, House & Garden
2015 | Inspirational interiors, House & Garden
2015 | Vogue's Gallery, British Vogue
​​​​