Manaswini Balekkala (b. 1995) is a visual artist based in India whose practice explores the complexities of human experience through painting. Working primarily with oil, she is interested in the ways everyday gestures, social relationships, rituals and familiar situations can carry layers of meaning that are not immediately visible. Her approach to painting is informed by an interest in psychology and observation, often drawing attention to the tension between what is seen and what is understood. Rather than presenting situations as fixed narratives, her works create spaces for ambiguity, allowing seemingly ordinary moments to unfold as theatrical, psychological and occasionally unsettling encounters.

Balekkala completed her Bachelor's in Painting from the College of Fine Arts, Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, and her Master's in Painting from the Bangalore School of Visual Arts. She has taken part in various group shows, including the Quinary Show at Venkatappa Art Gallery; Brouhaha Art's women's exhibition; and exhibitions by the Art Society of India and the Karnataka Lalithakala Academy, among others. In 2026, she participated in the Ajithara Dotwalk Residency, Delhi, and the Space Studio Residency, Vadodara. Balekkala has won the Karnataka Government State Award, as well as the Excellence Award from the College of Fine Arts.