An advertising graduate, Nehal Rachh’s journey as an artist began with her tenure at Kanoria Centre for Art at Ahmedabad in 1995. After a degree in applied arts, from M.S. University, Baroda, she turned towards ceramics, which was her true calling. 8 months at the Golden Bridge Pottery, Pondicherry, further gave way to asserting her creativity in the new techniques, which she learnt there. However, it was a three-month residency in France in the year 2000, which enabled the artist to go beyond her then current mode of working.

As a part of her growth as an artist and an individual, Nehal tends to outgrow a certain style after a period of time and this itself lends a fresh appeal both to the artist as well as to the viewer. Several new beginnings, seemingly not related to the previous work or attitude of the artist, reveals new dimensions and possibilities in her work. Her work is a continuous journey; she thoroughly enjoys every bit of the process involved in its creation. The inevitable question of “what next” becomes the last stage of each body of work and the beginning of the next. Her current body of work emerges from the need for preservation or fossilization. “It is a human need to want to keep things as they are, to preserve and cherish. We choose to retain a large number of things. Be it impressions, memories or even objects of desire”.

Nehal chooses to involve the other senses into her work, whether it means the inclusion of graphic patterns in her ceramics or the use of mixed media like wood or fabrics in her sculptures. “An exchange of any sorts, cultural, conceptual or that of medium has only helped enhance my creative capabilities.”