Meera Chauda
My practice involves finding, creating, and manipulating images to construct narratives that are both playful and complex.
In my work, I reimagine fictional female protagonists drawn from the childhood stories that have shaped me. These composite characters—part Kali, part Alice in Wonderland, part my own experience—embody elements from various stories and histories. I use collage, often combining it with drawing, photography, text, and stitch and tapestry each layer adding complexity and depth to the narrative. The final pieces are often sequences of photographed images, each telling a fragment of a larger story. These stories are not fixed; they evolve as I explore different combinations and perspectives.
I dismantle and reassemble images, playing with their meanings and forms, organising them into new configurations that provoke questions and invite multiple interpretations.
My characters inhabit vibrant, often heavily patterned environments where the boundaries between background and foreground blur. In these spaces, recent images may vanish, become hidden, silenced, or obscured, mirroring the ways in which histories are often selectively remembered or forgotten. My images map and consider the confusion and complexities of home, heritage, legacy and place.
With over 25 years in Arts Education, I’ve worked as a facilitator, educator, consultant, and trainer, collaborating with institutions such as Tate, the National Portrait Gallery, The National Maritime Museum, the British Library, and The South London Gallery. My contributions span leading projects, workshops, training, resource development, evaluation, and consultation.
Central to my practice is a commitment to fostering inclusivity and advancing anti-racist and decolonising practices within the arts. Recently, I served as an Artist Critical Friend at Tate and contributed as a Content Advisor on Empire and Colonial history for the National Portrait Gallery's Picturing History Schools resource.
Together with Jean Campbell, I co-lead anti-racist training for museum staff, working with teams from the Museum of London, Courtauld Gallery, the Horniman Museum, and others. I also provide CPD for teachers in South Essex, focusing on enhancing literacy through visual arts.
My work is deeply rooted in social justice, aiming to create inclusive spaces in the arts that empower marginalised communities and challenge historical narratives. I am dedicated to guiding institutions and individuals toward more equitable and reflective practices, with a focus on dismantling racist structures within the arts.
Art, for me, is both a mirror and a window—a way to reflect on the world as it is and envision what it could become. My mission is to continue using my skills and experiences to facilitate change, both within the arts and in the broader social landscape, ensuring that arts education and cultural spaces are places where everyone can see themselves reflected and valued.
Education & Training
2018 SAPERE Philosophy for Children Foundation Course (Level 1)
1999 Institute of Education, London Training for Artist in Schools
1995 Winchester School of Art B.A (HONS) Textile Art
Selected Employment
2020 The British Library Family Takeover: Make and Create. Devising a series of Activities and resources for Families of all ages inspired by Unfinished Business: The fight for women’s rights Exhibition.
2020 The Pitt Rivers Museum Experiential Training (online) for The Front of House Team. In collaboration with Jean Campbell & Ayisha De Lanerolle
2020 St.Joseph's School, Waltham Cross Online Training CPD for Teachers: Ideas to develop Literacy through the Visual Arts.
2014 - 2020 National Portrait Gallery Artist Facilitator for the Schools, Family & Youth Programme.
2018-2020 Royal Opera House Bridge Creative Writing through the Arts.Collaborating and mentoring 15 Teachers in South Essex Primary Schools using visual arts to improve pupils’ core literacy skills.
2020 The British Library Developing Creative online activities for The Discovering Children’s Book’s website for Primary School Teachers. https://www.bl.uk/childrens-books/activities/star-in-your-own-fairy-tale
2018 - 2019 Art on the Underground/TFL Artist for Brixton Schools Mural Design Project
2005 - 2019 The British Library Creative Educator. Development and delivery of schools workshops, summer schools, family learning and early years
2017-2018 The South London Gallery Development and delivering Gallery based Schools and SEN Sessions.
2006 -2020 The National Maritime Museum Devising and Delivering Art inspiration and My First visit workshops for Foundation Stage and key Stage 1 & 2 for schools. Art Museum as Muse workshops – Key Stage 3,4 & 5..Delivery of drop-in workshops for the Family programme
2012-2019 The Cutty Sark Artist for Family Learning
2012-2013 Tate Britain A Time Map of British History- Working with Yr 5 students from St Gabriels School, Pimlico to produce content for a Timeline currently installed in the Manton Entrance at Tate Britain.
2011 - 2012 Tate Modern Artist for Schools Programme
2009 Creative Partnerships Luton Artist
2008 Whitechapel Art Gallery Artist for Archive Adventures
2007-2008 Creative Partnerships Hertfordshire/Creativity for Life Artist
2007 Tate Britain Artist VerbalEyes finding a voice through art
2006 Camden Arts Centre Artist Transitions Project
2006 Crafts Council Artist in Residence. Drawing workshops
2005 LIFT Creative consultant and Mentor for TAP (Teacher Artist Programme)
2004 LIFT (London International Festival of theatre) Artist facilitator on Teacher forum
2002-2003 Whitechapel Art Gallery Artist Creative connections
Exhibitions/Projects
2020 A Proposal for Radical Hospitality. Contribution to a Sound installation in the Queen's House composed by Peter Adjaye in the Queen’s House Art Gallery, The National Maritime Museum
2006 Drawing residency Crafts council, London
2005 Creative Routes Arts depot, London.
2003 Creative Connections Whitechapel Art Gallery
2003 Artlink U.K finalist for Young International Art Programme http://www.artlink.com/IYA_Moscow_2003
2002 Message to India British Council Queens Gallery, India
2001 Self- Assembly Rugby Art gallery and Museum
2000 East International Norwich Gallery, Norwich
2000 Girl The new Art Gallery, Walsall
1996 'Inter (Re) ferences', Grande Gallerie, Ecole des Beaux de Rouen, France.
Commissions
2005-2017 Private commissions, drawings and photographic collage
2003 Creative Connections The Whitechapel Art gallery
2000 Girl The New Art Gallery Walsall
1995 Women on the streets in conjunction with the Art of change Public art photo-mural.
Residencies
2006 Drawer in Residence Crafts Council, London
2000 Artist in Residence for 'Girl' Exhibition. The New Art gallery Walsall.
2002 Arthaus studios, Basingstoke
Resources & research
2018 The National Maritime Museum Understanding the Sensitivities with working with Pacific Communities (history and objects) Training
2018 Content for a Resource for Key stage 1 & 2 - The Great British Seaside Exhibition The National Maritime Museum
2014 Content for Schools trails for Early Years/ Foundation Stage,Key stage 1 & 2 The National Maritime Museum. Highlights trail, Find a favourite & Nelson's Ship in a Bottle.
2014 In Gallery resource A Time Map of British History Tate Britain
2013 Platform: Contribution to an SEN Resource for Teachers Tate Modern
2009 Henry VIII Family Guide The British Library
2008 ‘Selecta’ African & Asian visual Artists Archive CD Art and design resource for secondary schools.
2003 ANIMARTS LIFT /Guildhall school of Speech and Drama- Artist in schools Action research programme
Selected Teaching
1998- 2000 Winchester School of Art Temporary Part-time lecturer (0.5) on Art Foundation.
1996-2000 Plymouth University (Exeter school of Art) Part time lecturer on BA (HONS) Contextual Practice & BA (HONS) Fine Art
