Amritha Jalaja Devi, a visual artist from Mavelikara, Kerala, is steadily developing her artistic career in the UK, where her contemporary figurative paintings explore themes of memory, identity, migration, home and personal experience.
Amritha’s journey from Kerala to the UK reflects both her strong artistic foundations and her determination to develop a distinctive creative voice. She completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts (Painting) at Raja Ravi Varma College of Fine Arts, Mavelikara, before moving to the UK to undertake an MA in Contemporary Art Practice at De Montfort University, Leicester.
Her artistic journey has already brought several notable achievements, including being selected for a GREAT Scholarship, a prestigious initiative supported by the British Council, for postgraduate study in the UK.
Recognition from the British Council
One of the most recent milestones in Amritha’s career came with her selection for the British Council Study UK Creative Connections 2026 exhibition in New Delhi.
The Creative Connections programme provides an opportunity to showcase emerging creative talent and build connections between artists and creative communities. Being selected for the 2026 exhibition represents an important recognition of Amritha’s developing practice.
Her work has also been connected with Kerala’s vibrant contemporary art scene. She participated in the Kochi-Muziris Biennale Foundation’s Varavazhikal public art project, gaining valuable experience in public and community-based art.
Working across different media
Amritha works with acrylic, oil, soft pastel and mixed media, often producing large-scale paintings measuring around four to five feet.
Using flat brushes and layers of mark-making, she builds textured surfaces that emphasise form, weight and presence. Colour is carefully considered to establish atmosphere and psychological depth.
Her work has been influenced by artists including Vincent van Gogh, Frida Kahlo and Andrew Wyeth, whose approaches to figurative art and emotional storytelling have informed her own artistic development.
From Kerala to the UK
Coming from Mavelikara and developing her professional practice in the UK has also given her an opportunity to connect her Kerala background with her evolving artistic identity. Amritha hopes to continue developing these connections through exhibitions, public art, community projects and workshops in the UK.
Alongside her own studio practice, she conducts online art classes and is exploring opportunities to become involved in community art workshops, public murals and council-supported art projects.
Building an artistic future
Amritha’s commissioned work already includes large-scale mural projects in the UK, including a mural for 90s Mix Restaurant in Leicester. Such projects have enabled her to take her artistic skills beyond the studio and into public and community spaces.
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