The inspiring journey of Shakila Sheikh, from vegetable vendor to internationally renowned artist

Though Shakila’s art is now displayed on walls in the US, Europe, and India, her beginnings were modest and difficult. This is her account.Shakila Sheikh resides thirty kilometers from Kolkata in a modest home. She is an artist who works out of a private studio. She is a housewife in addition to being well-known worldwide for her collage artwork. Houses in Europe, the US, and India are decorated with her artwork.

Shakila, a vegetable vendor’s daughter, staged her first exhibition in 1990 and made Rs 70,000. She now employs a crew to handle her sales, and her artwork is displayed around India, Europe, and the US.Nonetheless, she had a difficult upbringing and a difficult life. When she was a year old, her father left the household. Zehran Bibi, her mother, was compelled as a result to make the 40-kilometer daily trek from Mograghat to Taltala market.My mother used to take me on tours of the city but she didn’t let me work. While Mom worked, I enjoyed watching the buses and trams travel the streets and slept on the sidewalks.

She attributes her sudden inspiration to the artist and former government employee BR Panesar. He used to generously give away free eggs, biscuits, and chocolates to the local community. The youngsters called him “Dimbabu,” and he pulled her in the direction of the paintings. Shakila claimed in an interview with Livemint that her mother found it difficult to trust Panesar at first because she was worried about her daughter’s safety, but that trust was finally gained.

Shakila gave up on her education because it was too tough for her to go from her hamlet of Mograghat to school every day. She married 15-year-old Akbar Sheikh, who was already married, when she was just 12 years old. Shakila went to Panesar for assistance since she was having financial troubles, and he advised her to produce thongas, or paper bags, in order to support her husband.

Shakila began working on her first collage, a picture of fruits and vegetables that astounded everyone, after being inspired by his artwork. She initially exhibited her collage at an event in 1991.