Salina Jane Gani was born and brought up in London to East Indian, Guyanese parents. She has always had a passion for art and storytelling in pictures and has drawn from a very young age. As a child she loved illustrated children’s books and fairy tales, particularly the illustrations of Charles Keeping and Michael Forman and dreamed of being a book illustrator when she grew up.
Salina studied art at WSCAD, in Farnham, (now UCA) and graduated with a BA (Hons) in Fine Art, specialising in printmaking. She often works in lino, wood cut and etchings to create bold fantastical pieces full of mystery, imagination, and narrative. One of Salina’s other favourite mediums remains drawing, particularly with ink, and she tends to often use black and white, creating fine details which draw the viewer in.
Salina’s influences are varied, but she still has a passion for art that tells a story and has been influenced by the work of Paula Rego and Frieda Kahlo, through to William Hogarth and Goya, and by Japanese Ukiyo-e prints such as those by Katsushika Hokusai.
Much of Salina’s work is concerned with telling stories, of life in London, her passions, hobbies and loves and through a series of commissioned works, “Let me illustrate your life and loves”, she has had the privilege to create portraits and tell the stories of others. In June 2018 Salina had the privilege to be the artist repainting Guyana at The Carib Art Exhibition. She exhibited a series of work in various medium, exploring her family background and the experience of Indians who came to Guyana as Indentured labourers.
Salina is an Illustrator, Artist and Knitter working, creating and teaching in South Norwood, London, SE25.
Exhibitions & Events:
16th November 2021 - 1st December - Following the thread - Queens Park Arts Centre, Aylesbury - Solo Exhibition
September 2021 - Artist in Residence - Knitting and Crochet Guild Unconvention 2021
29th June 2019 - Indo-Caribbean London, Culture Fest - Ilford - Solo Exhibition
30th April - 18th May 2019 - Croydon Art Society Members Exhibition - Croydon Clocktower, London
6th & 7th October 2018 - Slaughterhaus + One - Members exhibition, Slaughterhaus Studio, London
16th - 2th October 2018 - Flavas of Africa & the Caribbean - group exhibition - Elizabeth James Gallery, London
September 2018 - Croydon Art Society Members exhibition - Denbies Wine Estate, Surrey
25th-28th June 2018 - Carib Art Exhibition, group exhibition representing Guyana at The High Commission for The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, London
23rd December 2017 - Live Art Event - Solo event- Elizabeth James Gallery, London
7th - 20th December 2017 - 1st Birthday Exhibition - group exhibition - Elizabeth James Gallery, London
2015 - Dulwich Art Festival, Group Open House Exhibition, London
Please get in touch if you are interested in purchasing prints, original art work, books or would like your own commissioned art working telling the story of your life and loves. You can also buy art in my Etsy Shop: SalinaJaneArt