Siona Benjamin

Siona Benjamin is a painter originally from Bombay, now living in the US. Her work reflects her background of being brought up Jewish in a predominantly Hindu and Muslim India. In her paintings she combines the imagery of her past with the role she plays in America today, making a mosaic inspired by both Indian miniature paintings and Sephardic icons.

She received her MFA in painting from Southern Illinois University and a second MFA in theater set design from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, with undergraduate degrees from J. J. School of Art in Bombay.

She is a visiting Assistant Professor at Trinity College in Hartford, CT-2003; adjunct instructor at the Southern Illinois University School of Art & Design-1996-2002; taught a multicultural diversity course for the honors program (at SIU-C) titled "Contemporary Asian Artists in the Diaspora"; conducted arts-in-education artist residencies in schools, universities and communities through the Illinois Arts Council since 1996.

Represented by: Cheryl Pelavin Fine Art, New York.

Exhibiting with: Bernice Steinbaum Gallery, Miami, FL and Walsh Gallery, Chicago.

click on the image to see an enlarged version of the painting

Finding Home #62 (Asnat), 2004		Finding Home #74 (Lilith), 2005		Bhava "Sringara - Love", 2006