b. 1994 (Chennai, India)
Based in Los Angeles, USA
maltliquaa(at)gmail(dot)com
2017 Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, MI
2015 American University in Rome, Rome, Italy
2018 Summer Studio Program, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
2023 malavika rao at Outdoor Closet, Los Angeles, CA
dear ponnu, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA
2022 welcome to our Zenana, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA
2017 Trimurti, Light Fine Arts Gallery, Kalamazoo, MI
2024 For the Love of Women, Arts District, Los Angeles, CA
2024 History Health and Home, 45th Annual Venice Family Clinic Art Walk + Auction, Venice, CA
2023 Air Conditioning, New Arts Foundation, West Hollywood, CA
La Conventa, The Reef, Los Angeles, CA
Earth is Just a Rock, Yiwei Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
à bientôt, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA
2022 *To Love and Be Loved in Return, SOMArts Cultural Center, San Francisco, CA
Mutual Gravity, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA
Metamaking, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA
My Next Incarnation, Idol Wild Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2019 Discovery Pop-Up, Discovery Studio, Bangalore, India
2018 *West Michigan Area Show, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, Kalamazoo, MI
Crockpot Crosswalk, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
On an Island, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
2017 Sites of Resistance: Expanding Consciousness of Reproductive Justice, Park Trades Center, Kalamazoo, MI
2016 Surface & Subrealities, Park Trades Center, Kalamazoo, MI
2025 Quilting for the Apocalypse, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO
2025 Collective Container for the Afterworlds: Handbuilding Workshop in Collaboration with Luka Carter, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO
2025 Drafting and Sewing Pants, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO
2025 Kalki - Artist Talk, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO
2024 Crochet 101 Workshop, Nova Community Arts, Los Angeles, CA
2024 Crafting the Future, A Feminist Fiber Arts History Workshop, Heavy Manners Library, Los Angeles, CA
2024 Politics and the Artist Statement, Guest Lecture, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA
2023 Rhythmic Paintings, Craft Lab Workshop, Craft Contemporary, Los Angeles, CA
2023 Threads of Time: Crafting Love, Healing, and the Delicate Bonds, Artist talk, Yiwei Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2018 Artist in Residence, Read and Write Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo, MI
2016 Summer Arts Program Coordinator, Northside Neighborhood Association, Kalamazoo, MI
2024 A View From The Easel, Hyperallergic
2024 Volume 2, Cusper Magazine
2024 Meet malavika rao, Bold Journey
2024 Meet Malavika Rao, Canvas Rebel
2023 New Arts Presents ‘Air Conditioning’ Exhibition Coming to West Hollywood, WEHO Times
2023 Meet Malavika Rao: Artist & Educator, Shoutout LA
2023 Check out Malavika Rao’s Story, Voyage LA
Based in Los Angeles, USA
maltliquaa(at)gmail(dot)com
Education
2023 California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA2017 Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, MI
2015 American University in Rome, Rome, Italy
Residencies
2024 Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, VT2018 Summer Studio Program, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
Solo Exhibitions
2025 kalki, Coburn Gallery, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO2023 malavika rao at Outdoor Closet, Los Angeles, CA
dear ponnu, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA
2022 welcome to our Zenana, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA
2017 Trimurti, Light Fine Arts Gallery, Kalamazoo, MI
Selected Group Exhibitions (*indicates juried)
2024 My Homies, Valence Projects, DTLA, CA2024 For the Love of Women, Arts District, Los Angeles, CA
2024 History Health and Home, 45th Annual Venice Family Clinic Art Walk + Auction, Venice, CA
2023 Air Conditioning, New Arts Foundation, West Hollywood, CA
La Conventa, The Reef, Los Angeles, CA
Earth is Just a Rock, Yiwei Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
à bientôt, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA
2022 *To Love and Be Loved in Return, SOMArts Cultural Center, San Francisco, CA
Mutual Gravity, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA
Metamaking, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA
My Next Incarnation, Idol Wild Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2019 Discovery Pop-Up, Discovery Studio, Bangalore, India
2018 *West Michigan Area Show, Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, Kalamazoo, MI
Crockpot Crosswalk, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
On an Island, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA
2017 Sites of Resistance: Expanding Consciousness of Reproductive Justice, Park Trades Center, Kalamazoo, MI
2016 Surface & Subrealities, Park Trades Center, Kalamazoo, MI
Artist Talks, Workshops, and Community Partnerships
2025 Guest Lecture and Arpillera Workshop, in Gender Inequality taught by Dr. Chantal Figueroa at Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO2025 Quilting for the Apocalypse, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO
2025 Collective Container for the Afterworlds: Handbuilding Workshop in Collaboration with Luka Carter, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO
2025 Drafting and Sewing Pants, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO
2025 Kalki - Artist Talk, Colorado College, Colorado Springs, CO
2024 Crochet 101 Workshop, Nova Community Arts, Los Angeles, CA
2024 Crafting the Future, A Feminist Fiber Arts History Workshop, Heavy Manners Library, Los Angeles, CA
2024 Politics and the Artist Statement, Guest Lecture, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA
2023 Rhythmic Paintings, Craft Lab Workshop, Craft Contemporary, Los Angeles, CA
2023 Threads of Time: Crafting Love, Healing, and the Delicate Bonds, Artist talk, Yiwei Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2018 Artist in Residence, Read and Write Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo, MI
2016 Summer Arts Program Coordinator, Northside Neighborhood Association, Kalamazoo, MI
Publications and Press
2025 Issue #175 Pacific Coast, New American Paintings2024 A View From The Easel, Hyperallergic
2024 Volume 2, Cusper Magazine
2024 Meet malavika rao, Bold Journey
2024 Meet Malavika Rao, Canvas Rebel
2023 New Arts Presents ‘Air Conditioning’ Exhibition Coming to West Hollywood, WEHO Times
2023 Meet Malavika Rao: Artist & Educator, Shoutout LA
2023 Check out Malavika Rao’s Story, Voyage LA