Environmental conservationist first, artist second.
Neelu Patel brings life to used newspaper — crafting masks, mud art, paintings and sculpture with a proficiency in colour blending and surface effect that has made her one of the most eminent artists working in the medium.
Neelu Patel, from Ahmedabad, is a trendsetter with each of her artifacts crafted from paper‑mache. She is known to bring life to used pieces of newspaper, through which she uniquely crafts marvelous paintings complemented by her proficiency in colour blending and superficial effects.
Her mastery in converting waste paper into eccentric art pieces makes her one of the most eminent artists working in the medium. With her inclination towards “save our environment,” she was among the first of her kind to show how art itself can be an eco‑friendly practice.
Why paper mache
Neelu is an environmental conservationist first and an artist second — the inspiration to nurture the craft of paper mache came directly from that instinct. She chose it because it reuses waste paper that would otherwise be thrown away, at a time when the world is moving toward being paperless.
“If a country is given carbon credit for low emissions, then why can’t an individual also be accredited?”
Neelu Patel
Not conservative about her knowledge
Neelu has exhibited at prestigious shows in India and internationally — but she is just as focused on keeping the craft alive for the next generation. She regularly conducts workshops, including one documented at NIFT Gandhinagar, teaching students the two core techniques behind her work: traditional paper mache and paper‑roll art.
She is concerned by the shift toward plaster of paris and plastic in craft and toy‑making, and sees paper mache as the environment‑friendly alternative worth protecting — one student at a time.
“These materials would have otherwise been scrapped, so it is truly incredible to see them used so positively, artistically.”
Krupesh Hirani — Brent Council Library, Willesden, London
Selected exhibitions
India & abroadBrent Council Library, Willesden, London — a 12‑day exhibition of paper mache and collage artwork.
A three‑day showcase exploring tribal craft traditions and their contemporary echoes.
London — a solo showing of Neelu’s paper mache paintings.
Ministry of Textiles, Government of India — for craftsmanship and contribution to the development of paper mache craft.
Own an original piece
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