About the Artist
Sumathi holds a bachelor’s degree in English Literature and a master’s in Mass Communication & Journalism. After clearing the Civil Services Exam, she served in various Government Departments in several leadership roles and retired as Chief Postmaster General. Throughout a demanding professional career, art remained a constant presence, practised with discipline, patience, and devotion.
Early Influences
Born in Varanasi and raised in Salem, a town surrounded by hills and greenery, her early connection to nature shaped the way she sees and interprets the world.
She was also influenced by her mother, Shantha Dakshinamoorthy, a trained artist from the Ukil School of Art and a graduate of Banaras Hindu University. While her journey has been largely self-directed, these early environments left a lasting imprint on her artistic outlook.
Artistic Journey
Working primarily in oil on canvas and also with acrylics, Sumathi builds her paintings through layers, allowing time, texture, and intuition to guide the process. Through careful attention to depth, light, and subtle shadow, her works create a quiet sense of movement, transporting the viewer into mountains, rivers, and forested landscapes.
Her subjects often emerge from:
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Landscapes encountered during travel
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Winding pathways in the Western Ghats
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Mist-covered hills of Himachal
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Quiet lakes and flowering fields of the countryside.
Flowers recur in her work not merely as forms, but as expressions of joy, resilience, and quiet celebration.
Philosophy
Her practice is grounded in observation rather than spectacle. The paintings do not seek to impress, but to invite.
“With an eye made quiet by the power of harmony, and the deep power of joy, we see into the life of things.” (Wordsworth)
This philosophy shapes her approach, where art becomes an offering of calm in an increasingly restless world.
Exhibitions
Her first solo Exhibition titled “Serenity” was held in Dec.2003 in La Galarie d’ Expression at Ambassador Pallava, Chennai.
After retirement, Sumathi now practices art full-time and actively exhibits her work.
Her solo exhibition “Echoes of Eternity” showcased a collection of forty landscape paintings inspired by her travels and was held at Lakshana Art Gallery, Chennai in Oct/Nov, 2025.
Through her exhibitions and ongoing practice, she continues to share a body of work that speaks gently, yet with depth, to collectors, curators, and art lovers alike.
