Biography

by Zarina Mail, Curator

Artist Nym Gautama was born and raised in Nairobi, Kenya in 1928 to parents of Indian origin. While being taught in Mombasa, Gautama showed exceptional art skills and potential at an early age; thus she pursued her training in a concentration of visual arts and arts education through studies and travels around Europe. Gautama received certifications from the University of London and Cambridge, while also receiving first hand experience through an apprenticeship with renowned artist Joseph Hermann in Wales. Despite previous generations of restrictive gender norms, Gautama secured an established career early on by fostering international relations with pivotal political figures in society. Her charms, skill, and intelligence with respect to contemporary art practices made her a sought after personage for several international collections and shows.

While continuing to participate in exhibits globally, Gautama assumed a teaching position for 20 years as the Head of the Art Department in Kenya. She then immigrated to Canada after being coaxed by several gallery directors, who assured her unique, multi-cultural style of art would be esteemed in Canadian galleries. Gautama continued to receive international praise and recognition while also starting to conjure positive reviews with her shows in Canada. And while she resumed teaching full time, she also assumed new roles as a fine art consultant and member in several charities. From early days in her career, the artist was granted several awards for her art and her work as a humanitarian.

Looking back at her distinguished career, she has proven to be the “Ottawa’s prize artistic jewel” (described by the Mayor at the time, James Durrell), having shown her uniquely Euro-African-Eastern-Asian-influenced work several times in city landmarks such as City Hall and the National Arts Center; her work is also part of numerous prestigious collections around the world. Gautama successfully illustrated the human ability to adapt in any setting and situation, yet she took it a bit further by gifting viewers with her ability to not only adapt but to see the beauty in any place she was in. Gautama had a unique vision, being a part of several cultures and countries, not only witnessing and learning, but mastering artistic styles, such as batik.  The tender view she developed of world traveler, strong woman, and mother, allowed her to see and paint the world through eyes sensitive/intuitive to beauty.