B. S. Shivaraju alias Cop Shiva is an artist that uses photography to document the fringes of society.
He began his artistic journey by being part of alternative art collective in 2010 and co-ordinator for 1ShanthiRoad studio. He began his career as a Policeman with the state Police department and since 2010, he has continued his practice and has been dedicatedly working as a photographer.
His selected solo exhibitions are, *Urban Ecstasy*, Konstepidemin Gallery, Sweden, 2019; *Blind Gold*, Rore Fabrik, Sweden, 2018; *On Being Gandhi: The Art and Politics of Seeing*, San Deigo, USA, 2019; Nashville, USA, 2018; Duke University, Durham, USA, 2017; The Frank Museum of Art, Columbus, Ohio, USA, 2016; *Urban Ecstasy*, Gallery Sumukha, Bangalore, 2017; *Spring is warmer than the sea*, Sweden, 2017; *Impersonations Impersonating Enacting Icons, Gandhi/MG*, Apparao Gallery, Chennai, 2015; *Ecstasy*, Art Heritage Gallery, New Delhi, 2014; *G is for Gandhi*, curated by Christine Rogers, RBANMS Kala Ranga, Bangalore, 2014; *My Life is my message*, Art Heritage Gallery, New Delhi, 2013; *Face to Face*, curated by Sandhya Annaiah, Gallery Sumukha, Bangalore, 2012.
His works has been part of several shows both nationally and internationally, of which some includes Art Heritage, 2018; *Water + Wisdom Australia India*, Australia; *Art for Peace*, National Art Gallery, Pakistan; Serendipity Arts Festival, Goa; *Forms of Devotion* curated by Sushma Bahl, multiple venues in Spain; *The Water Agora, Pondy Photo Festival*, Pondicherry; *One and One make eleven*, Kunsthaus Gallery, Switzerland; *Retake: Galaxy of Musicians*, Kochi Muziris Biennale, Kochi; *Being Gandhi*, Chobi Mela, Bangladesh; India Art Fair, New Delhi; *Homelands*, The British Council, New Delhi; *Sethusamudram*, Theertha Art Collective, Srilanka; *Articulate*, Saffron Art, London and *Body Politics*, 1Shanthiroad Gallery, Bangalore.
He has been a finalist of The Robert Gardner Fellowship in Photography of the Peabody Essex Museum, Harvard University; received IASPIS, Swedish Art Grant and residencies from Lichtenberg studios, Germany, Theertha Artist Collective, Srilanka. He is a recipient of 2017 grant from Prohelvetia-Switzerland and Swedish Art Council.
The artist lives and works between in his native Ramnagara and Bangalore.
