Biography

Chila Kumari Singh Burman has a widely recognised, unique visual identity that has been shaped by her working class childhood in a Liverpudlian household. Born and raised within the wonderful Punjabi Hindu culture of her parents, Chila's upbringing has shaped her practice, and experience of the world and is one of the key reasons why her works have come to speak to several generations of young multicultural communities in Britain.
With a practice devoted to challenging stereotypes, and placing alternative perspectives of Britishness at the forefront of art history. Her works reach global audiences. She has exhibited widely in both solo and group shows nationally and internationally, and represented Britain at the Havana Biennale in 1996. A number of her works and film pieces are represented in museums and notable public institutions such as the British Council, Victoria and Albert Museum, BFI, Wellcome Collection, Science Museum and Tate. Through this exposure, she has been able to engage with new generations and societies, connecting with the younger generation and emerging artists in the early stages of their practices.
Chila has always had a passion for teaching and engaging with the next generation, having taught at Lahore College of Art and holding a number of popular talks with students across the UK and the wider public. For over 13 years, she has served as a trustee on the board of Rich Mix, a charity celebrating the diversity of London through an aspiring program of contemporary culture. And she has gifted her time and works to raise funds for a number of other charities, more recently this includes a collaboration with Rankin and WaterAid, and the creation of a print for WWF's fight against climate change campaign. She recently featured in Sky Arts' documentary special Statues Redressed, following a number of artists in a unique project reimagining Liverpool's most iconic statues. And has completed a number of notable commission pieces for brands including Netflix's White Tiger campaign and Byredo's new fragrance Mumbai Noise.