OLIVIA FRASER

Olivia obtained an MA in Modern Languages from Oxford before attending Wimbledon Art College and later relocating to India in 1989. Inspired by her relative James Baillie Fraser, an artist who depicted India in the early 1800s, Olivia embarked on a similar journey, capturing the architecture and people of Delhi through her paintings. Like Fraser, she also engaged local artists to contribute to the renowned 'Fraser Album,' a masterpiece of Company School Painting that portrayed diverse individuals, their occupations, crafts, and castes against plain white backgrounds.

This fusion of Eastern and Western techniques and ideas greatly influenced Olivia's early artistic endeavors in the 1990s. In 2005, she made the decision to study traditional Indian miniature painting techniques under the guidance of Jaipuri and Delhi masters. These techniques, characterized by vibrant stone colors, intricate miniature brushwork, and intricate decorative and polished surfaces, are now integral to her artistic style.

Olivia has delved into the visual language of Nathdwara pichwai painting and early 19th-century Jodpuri painting, drawing inspiration from their archetypal iconography rooted in India's rich artistic and cultural heritage. This artistic exploration transcends borders and resonates with her dual existence between the East and the West. Her artwork has been exhibited in galleries and art fairs worldwide, including a prestigious display at the Venice Biennale in 2015. Olivia's paintings now grace collections in various countries, such as India, the UK, France, Belgium (Museum of Sacred Art), UAE, Singapore, Australia, China, and the USA.