This Indian Artist’s Zara Collab Will Make You Look Like A Living Canvas

Manuja Waldia is an Indian illustrator and painter whose work feels like stepping into a soft, familiar memory. Born and raised in India, she began her creative journey studying fashion communication at NIFT in New Delhi before moving to the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, where she graduated in 2014 with a degree in communication design. Today, she is based in Goa.

Her career took off when Penguin Random House commissioned her to design 40 covers for the Pelican Shakespeare series in 2016, marking 400 years since William Shakespeare’s death. 

What her art signifies

Waldia’s art is bold, saturated, and full of life. Her paintings often centre on women, friendships, food and shared spaces. Small, intimate moments become the main story.

In an interview with Nod, she described her style as “dream-like and mostly figurative,” and said, “I think and dream in vivid colour; it flows pretty naturally into my work.” That explains the rich palettes and layered compositions that feel almost cinematic. Her work reflects what she once described as a need for connection. 

Zara collab

Her recent collaboration with Zara brings that entire visual world into fashion. And it works because her art was always meant to live beyond gallery walls. With her signature clean lines and vibrant colours, the pieces feel like walking canvases, carrying her stories into everyday spaces.

What makes this collaboration stand out is how true it stays to her core ideas. The same themes of feminine friendships, shared joy, and quiet resistance show up just in a more accessible format.