Umesh Pandey’s (b. 2002) practice is an exploration of the inner self, where consciousness, emotion, and memory are central to his image-making. Working across printmaking, drawing, painting, and photography, Pandey allows the demands of each work to guide his choice of medium. The interplay of materials is key to his process, where the amalgamation of multiple disciplines on a single surface creates layered visual and emotional effects. Photography, in particular, serves as both a method of mindfulness and a means of observing his own thought patterns. His works often draw indirect inspiration from cinema, both in imagery and in the way he titles his pieces, using film’s narrative structures as a way to enter mysterious, contemplative paths. Pandey’s evolving body of work reflects a deep engagement with process, materiality, and mindfulness, positioning his practice at the intersection of personal reflection and contemporary image-making. Born in Meuli Kanshpur, Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, Pandey studied Painting at Lucknow College of Arts and Crafts, University of Lucknow (2018–22), and pursued an MFA in Printmaking at The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda (2023–25).