Born in 1954, Shipra Bhattacharya was educated at the College of Arts and Crafts and the College of Visual Arts in Kolkata. Shipra’s work has dealt with women’s issues in a confrontational, yet subtle manner. While the female figure forms a central part of her work, it is more the inner consciousness of these women that the artist draws on, using bold yet soft colours and smooth brushwork. There is a mystery about each of her female protagonists, about the want of something more than what meets the eye. In her recent works, the female body becomes a site or a vehicle, that is tattooed with icons and images that voice both fulfillment and desire. The artist combines with ease bright, bold colours and soft, curving strokes, rendering a mesmerizing effect each of her paintings. She is famous for her "Desire" series, which are sensual and decorative, with a reliance on vibrant colours and old-world Indian motifs, sometimes used symbolically. The artist’s works have been exhibited in numerous group shows which have travelled all over the world.