As an advocate for change and an exceptional artist, Radhika Gupta-Buckley is paving the way for young minority women and is also a compelling voice for the silenced and oppressed. 

A quote that Radhika lives by is, “Always remain defiant and challenge the status quo. I am a risk-taker and always have been,” as she navigates through a world full of bureaucratic barriers. 

As an influencing artist, Radhika is making waves in the artistic world by sharing inspiring pieces in order to facilitate change and shed light on cultural issues. 

Radhika has presented many of her pieces at successful art galleries such as Art Basel and IV Gallery. She also has many upcoming projects in the near future, such at an art auction for LREI Private School on May 2nd and an art solo show at Band of Vices, on September 23rd for four weeks. 

Born and raised in Delhi, India, Radhika has been enriched by Indian culture. She says, “We enjoyed traveling as a family, so I’d describe my upbringing as the perfect mix of East and West, combining the rich cultural heritage of India with a global perspective.” 

Radhika’s passion for the arts has been running through her veins since the ripe age of six, as her family shared the same love. “Coming from a family of art collectors, my keen interest in art started at an early age. ​I have always been very creative and aesthetically inclined,” she shares. “I started painting when I was about six years old, perhaps earlier, and continued with it​. Constantly traveling and being exposed to different cultures allowed me to experience new ideas and influences, and my art became a secret language I would use to communicate with myself.” 

As her love for the arts has always been present in her life, her early career went on a different path. Radhika studied law at the University of Oxford, which led her to practice law at the Supreme Court of India and the UN in The Hague. 

Life as a lawyer seemed to be the right path for Radhika as she had a passion to fight the systematic issues of society. She followed the footsteps of her grandfather. She says, “My biggest inspiration is my grandfather. He was an exceptional lawyer, righteous, and always in service to people.”

Although practicing law seemed to be the right career path for Radhika on the surface, she felt limited as to how she could use her voice to fight these historical injustices. “I was deeply frustrated by the bureaucratic barriers to facilitating change as a lawyer, so I reverted back to art to inform, educate, and enlighten on cultural issues, from equality, gender bias, sexuality, race, and prejudice across nations and cultures. I aim to use art to be a voice for the silenced and oppressed,” Radhika shares.

Leaving a job of stability and comfort is never an easy task, yet Radhika felt inclined to pursue her devotion to art without a second of regret. She says, “After leaving my law career behind,  I felt almost helpless to fix many issues and injustices in my country, so I began finding refuge in painting. I held my first exhibition in 2017, inaugurated by the Cultural Minister of India. I displayed almost 30 pieces – my life’s work! The response was hugely positive, and I’ve never looked back.”

Radhika’s art pieces are inspired by and stem from her Indian roots. Radhika says, “In the broadest sense, I am inspired by the beauty of India. More personally and on a visceral level, resolving the various contradicting parts of my personality or sometimes egging them on really inspires me. There’s always been an internal tug of war, the more reserved creative against the version pushing my boundaries to claim the things I like aloud without the fear of judgment. When you put your art out into the world, a certain nakedness is required, and I’m still adjusting to it. As I learn to be more fearless, I adopt a more vulnerable and overt way of interacting with the world, which shows in my work. Earnestness is a privilege and something to work towards, and I’m constantly striving to achieve that in my art.” 

Working at the Supreme Court of India, Radhika is an established advocate who hopes to invoke change through her art pieces. 

To learn more about Radhika and check out her upcoming projects, click here.