Paled Toys

Rina Upadhyaya’s artistic practice marks a soulful return to her creative roots. She transitions from a seasoned career in advertising and publishing to a tactile exploration of the everyday. Her work serves as a subversion of the polished urban narrative, particularly within Gurgaon, where she peels back the city’s “shiny exterior” to reveal the profound beauty of overlooked streets, gardens, and the quiet strength of ordinary women. Moving fluidly between gouache, watercolor, and pen, Upadhyaya balances the influence of provincial life with the vibrancy of pop culture, celebrating the “peculiarities of the quotidian” with an experimental spirit. This commitment to the raw and authentic is mirrored in her choice of materials; by repurposing used packaging and kraft paper, she aligns her creative output with a deep-seated devotion to sustainability and the untamed rhythms of the natural world.