Oil · Charcoal · Watercolour — Toronto

MalikaSharma

“Hence, I paint to see myself. The colours and the lines that make me.”

— from Reflection, 2026
Enter the Gallery
Malika Sharma holding a paper-wrapped bouquet of cream roses, standing before her painting of a tall ship on a moonlit, storm-tossed sea.
The artist, photographed among her works

Twelve Works, Three Rooms

Portraits with halos, hydrangeas that outlast their two-week bloom, and water painted as if it were laughing. Hung the way they deserve to hang.

Reflection — a self-portrait before a golden halo The Ship that Sailed — a tall ship on stormy moonlit water Reunion — a dancer in a deep blue lehenga
Malika crouched with a palette of pink paint, working on her mural Wall of Roses in a school hallway.
At work on Wall of Roses, acrylic on wall, 2025

The Artist

“I am a Toronto-based multidisciplinary artist whose practice bridges contemporary art and realism through traditional mediums, working primarily in oil paint while also exploring charcoal and watercolor.”

My work is driven by a fascination with the complexities of human experience, exploring the subtle relationships between thought, emotion, identity, and behavior.

Drawing inspiration from both the human mind and the natural world, I create works that invite quiet reflection. I am interested in the tensions between the visible and the unseen, the spoken and the unspoken, and the balance between chaos and harmony. Through layered symbolism, expressive colour, and carefully observed detail, I transform intangible experiences into visual narratives that encourage personal interpretation.

For me, creating is an ongoing process of discovery. Each work becomes an exploration of memory, perception, and connection, offering space for viewers to reflect on their own inner worlds and relationships with the world around them. As my practice continues to evolve, I remain committed to experimenting with material, texture, and light while creating work that is thoughtful, introspective, and emotionally resonant.

Honours

  • People’s Choice Award, Well-Being × Inclusion Week ExhibitionSamuel J. Zacks Gallery, York University · 2026
  • Gerard Sendrey PrizeSamuel J. Zacks Gallery, York University · 2025

The Gallery Awaits

Twelve works are hanging in the dark, waiting for the lights.