Her artworks Blue Skies and Dreamer, from The Journey collection, now command all the screens of Terminal 5, along with other eminent International artists like Tracey Emin and M.O.N.O.M.O. In a significant moment for Indian contemporary art, acclaimed artist, philanthropist and business leader Michelle Poonawalla’s art is now features on the digital screens of London Heathrow Airport. This makes it one of the first times that an Indian artist has done such a takeover, turning a major global crossroads into an immersive gallery. Michelle’s distinctive creative voice now reaches millions of travellers from every corner of the world, far beyond the traditional gallery.
Her installations have been shown at the Saatchi Gallery, London, the 7th Mediations Biennale in Poland and the Kochi-Muziris Biennale, and she has lent her art to causes, including WWF Singapore’s Tiger Trail (2022) and The Elephant Parade India (2017). She received the Shiromani Award at the NRI World Summit 2022 in the UK.
Commenting on this milestone, Michelle Poonawalla, Director, Poonawalla Group, said, “It is an immense honour to have my artworks showcased at London Heathrow Airport, bringing my creative vision to a truly global audience. Dyl Blaquiere, CEO of Sedition, said, “Art shouldn’t be limited to galleries. The Journey is a collection close to my heart, and both Blue Skies and Dreamer celebrate hope, imagination and the endless possibilities of the human spirit. As an Indian artist and the first to appear on these screens, this is a particularly proud moment, and I hope my work inspires a sense of optimism and wonder among travellers from across the world. ” Born into a creative legacy, Michelle inherited her love of art from her grandfather, Jehangir Vazifdar, one of South Mumbai’s most celebrated architects and a contemporary of M.F. Husain, S.H. Raza and V.S. Gaitonde. Her work bridges heritage and the avant-garde, combining his ruler technique with video mapping, motion sensors and projection. Through our partnership with Heathrow, we’re bringing digital art from Sedition into a space where millions of people pass through, creating an unexpected moment of discovery on their journey. It’s exciting to showcase leading artists such as Michelle Poonawalla, Tracey Emin, M.O.N.O.M.O. and many more on a platform of this scale, introducing their work to audiences from all over the world. ”