Born in 1923, Pilloo Pochkhanawala graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce from Bombay University Initially an advertising professional, she started her career as a sculptor relatively late in her life, at the age of twenty- eight, after a business trip to Europe in 1951 Pilloo Pochkhanawala visited various museums during her travels and has been quoted as being ‘’struck by a visual bolt’’ by the works of modern sculptors The magnetism she felt towards sculptures led her to becoming a pioneer in the male-dominated world of Indian art

Pilloo Pochkhanawala’s early works were inspired by the British sculptor, Henry Moore The innate vitality of Moore’s figures deeply resonated with her which she incorporated in her wood sculptures of seated Indian women She was mentored by the senior sculptor N G Pansare who gave her the technical training in sculpting, influencing her style in the years to come

Known for their organic quality, Pilloo Pochkhanawala rendered her works with a rhythmic smoothness She had a distinct mastery over form and strategically used negative space to give her works a dynamic appeal Exploring the boundaries between time, space and nature, the artist experimented with a variety of materials She learned the techniques of welding which gave her the freedom to express her creativity, thus bridging the gap between the concept and its physical manifestation

During her career, Pilloo Pochkhanawala was commissioned for several public sculptures and has designed the sets for various stage productions An important artist of her time, she was also a mediator and facilitator of arts in Bombay, organizing the Bombay Arts Festival from the 1960’s for many years She held several solo and group exhibitions at renowned galleries in Mumbai, Bangkok, Tokyo, Belgium and various other cities The artist passed away in 1986 In 1996 Gallery Chemould hosted a commemorative exhibition marking the artist's tenth death anniversary

The artist passed away in 1986