Malavika Rajnarayan
Areas of Interest & Expertise
- Arts education
- Arts curriculum and its implementation in Indian schools
- Differentiated teaching-learning in the arts classroom
- Socio-emotional ethical learning
- Embodied learning through the arts
- Arts appreciation
Biography
Malavika has a BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts) in painting from the College of Fine Arts, Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, Bengaluru, and MVA (Master of Visual Arts) in painting at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. She has presented solo shows at Anant Art, New Delhi and has exhibited her work in several other group exhibitions both within India and internationally. She has participated in artist residency programmes, workshops, camps and has presented lectures to various audiences. She also writes on art and art education.
Her visual language draws from a wide range of Asian and Indian painting traditions, particularly miniature painting. She is interested in art processes that involve spontaneous improvisation, where creative expressions evolve through repeated variations on a basic structure. This interest has led her to explore the connections between pattern and rhythm, routines, and conditioned modes of thinking, learning, and being.
Details
Publications
Artwork accompanying publications
- Dahnoun, Y. (2025). Healing as radical care [Artwork]. Resurgence & Ecologist, (348), 48 – 49. https://www.resurgence.org/magazine/article6431-healing-as-radical-care.html
- Mallipudi, S. (2019). The dot that went for a walk: 51 short stories [Artwork]. In S. Akkineni, R. Gupta, & L. Nambiar, The dot that went for a walk: 51 short stories (pp. 93 – 94). Caterpillar Wings LLP.
Journal articles
- Rajnarayan, M. (2026). ‘Ear-training’. Hākārā, (25). https://hakara.in/ear-training-malavika-rajnarayan/
Magazine articles
- Rajnarayan, M. (2026). Art education in the National Curriculum Framework. Learning Curve, (23), 28 – 32. https://publications.azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/7883/
- Rajnarayan, M. (2024, December). Let’s do some activities. Pathshala Bheetar aur Bahar, (23), 58 – 59. https://publications.azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/5987/1/Let%27s%20do%20Some%20Activities%21.pdf
- Rajnarayan, M. (2024). The arts and socio-emotional and ethical learning. Learning Curve, (18), 17 – 19. https://publications.azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/5602/
- Rajnarayan, M. (2022). Art and the environment. Learning Curve, (13), 20 – 22. https://publications.azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/3777/
- Rajnarayan, M., & Sharma, J. (2021). Sustaining meaningful ways of engaging with students. Learning Curve, 75 – 80. https://publications.azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/3196/
- Rajnarayan, M. (2017). Making room for insignificance. Learning Curve, (28), 23 – 25. https://publications.azimpremjiuniversity.edu.in/1114/
- Rajnarayan, M. (2016, July – December). Evoking the nature of things. TAKE on Art, (19), 147 – 148. https://takeonartmagazine.com/magazine/writing/
- Rajnarayan, M. (2016, January – June). TAKE on Art gives back. TAKE on Art, (18), 134 – 137. https://takeonartmagazine.com/magazine/photography-2016/
- Rajnarayan, M. (2015, March). Ongoing alterations on the wheel: An insight into the work of Vinod Daroz. Monthly Ceramic Art + Life, (227), 62 – 67.
- Rajnarayan, M. (2008). Building beginnings [Exhibition catalogue]. Anant Art. https://www.anantart.com/publications/7‑building-building-beginnings-malavika-rajnarayan/
Reports
- Rajnarayan, M. (2026). Mid-term programme review: Kali Kalisu Arts Education Programme, April 2022 – March 2025. India Foundation for the Arts. https://indiaifa.org/sites/indiaifa/website/programme/ae/reports/ae-mid-term-review-malavika-rajnarayan.pdf