Artist Princess Pea, the alter ego of Natasha Preenja, has won the first-ever Swali Craft Prize. The award, presented by the Chanakya School of Craft in partnership with India Art Fair, includes a cash prize of 1.1 million rupees and an exhibition slot at the fair for a large embroidered wooden sculpture created during a residency at the school.
The prize highlights the growing institutional recognition for craft-based practices within the contemporary art world. It underscores a significant effort to elevate artisanal knowledge, particularly that of women, and bridges the gap between high fashion, traditional craft, and the commercial art fair circuit.