Who Is Shakuntala Kulkarni? 5 Facts You Need To Know About The Indian Artist Whose Work Was Featured at Dior
The French luxury label’s A/W 2024 catwalk was decorated with her work…
As models strutted down the runway in pieces from Dior’s fall-winter collection in Paris on Tuesday, elaborate armour-like sculptures made of cane stood centre stage at the show. The frames are a work of Indian Mumbai-based artist Shakuntala Kulkarni.
Creative Director at the French fashion label, Maria Grazia Chiuri’s designs masterfully blended the empowerment of modern women with the aesthetic of the 1960s. The latest line featured neatly belted trench coats, flared miniskirts, fringe dresses with intricate beadwork, and trim jackets. The collection also had handbags in all shapes and sizes, sunglasses, and shoes, including boots.
The display took place against the dramatic backdrop of Shakuntala’s cane frame sculptures.
In an Instagram post, Maria talked about Shakuntala’s work and shared why she chose her pieces to feature in her show. “I was particularly fascinated by these armours- they defend the female body while caging it, hindering its freedom. I am very happy to have had the opportunity to collaborate with @shakuntala.kulkarni for the installation hosting today’s @dior Autumn Winter 2025 show.”
Here are five things to know about the artist.
She’s from The Indian State Of Karnataka
Born in 1950, Shakuntala currently lives in Mumbai but she’s originally from the southwestern state of Karnataka in India.
She Formally Studied Art
In 1972, she got a diploma from Sir JJ School of Art, in Mumbai.
The multifaceted creative also studied printmaking at The Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, and Visva-Bharati University in Santiniketan.
Her Work Focuses On The Issues Of Women
According to her website, the artist has been focusing on gender specific issues since the mid-1980s, which is seen throughout her creations.
“My work since then has been an inquiry into the lives of urban women and their spaces like the home space, work space cultural and social space within the society which is essentially patriarchal,” her website states.
She Highlighted The Female Struggle In Her Sculptures At The Dior Show
In a video shared by Dior, Shakuntala is seen speaking about her work, which was part of the runway in Paris.
“In India, there have been a couple of female warriors and they wore these armour. The cane armour protecting the body came up. I did it as a metaphor but when you wear it, the way I’ve designed it, there is a kind of restriction in the movement. It is like protecting the body at the same time trapping the body,” she said.
She Is A Multidisciplinary Artist
Originally trained in mural painting, her work continued in the vein of addressing large audiences but shifted from flat surfaces into sculpture, performance, and new media.