Clare Arni

Clare Arni is a photographer based in Bangalore, India. Her work encompasses social documentary and cultural heritage. She has been published by leading publishing houses such as Phaidon, Thames and Hudson and Dorling Kindersley. She has also contributed work to magazines like Abitare (Italy), Tatler, Conde Nast (UK), Wallpaper, The Wall Street Journal and Harvard Design magazine as well as several Indian publications of repute. Her solo photographic books document the history of the architecture of Banaras, Palaces of the Deccan, the recent excavations of Hampi, the capital of the Vijaynagar Empire and a four-month journey along the course of the river Kaveri.

Clare’s body of work has been exhibited extensively, both in private galleries and cultural institutions. Her solo exhibitions document the lives of marginalized communities in some of the most remote regions of India and the disappearing trades of urban India. Most recently, she did a solo exhibition, Self- Reimagined, a photo exhibition at the Bangalore International Centre (2020) and A people’s history of water & Disappearing Professions in Urban India, at Centre d'Art, in Auroville, India (2020). A few shows of note are – Disappearing Professions of Urban India (UC Davis, California, 2016 and TARQ, Mumbai, 2014); Morphology of Archive, Museum of Goa (2016); Anatomy of Stillness, TARQ, Mumbai (2015); The Chikmagalur House, Dakshinachitra Museum, Chennai (2014). Her recent group shows are ‘From Bangalore with Love. Postcards from 1890 till 1910’ National Gallery of Modern Art, Bangalore 2024. ‘Sacred Geography of Goa’ Goa familia: Archive of potential (Goan) futures. Serendipity 2024.’ The Kodava house’ DakshinaChitra museum, Chennai. 2024.

Clare’s work has also been exhibited internationally at the Essl Museum (Vienna), Grosvenor Vadehra (London), Bose Pacia (New York), Berkeley Art Museum (Berkeley, California). Clare’s works have also found a place in the permanent collections of the Saatchi Gallery (London), the Freer/Sackler Gallery at the Smithsonian Institute (Washington DC) and the Art Gallery of New South Wales (Sydney, Australia).

She currently lives and works in Bangalore, India.