A photographer known for her black-and-white documentary photographs, Ketaki Sheth’s work depicts life and labour in urban spaces.

Sheth was born and raised in Mumbai and received her undergraduate degree in English literature from Elphinstone College (1979), followed by a Master’s in Communication Arts from Cornell University, New York (1980). She began photographing in the 1980s under the mentorship of Raghubir Singh.

Yesha and Niddhi; Ketaki Sheth; c. 1998; Silver gelatin print; 14 x 14 cm; Museum of Art & Photography (MAP), Bengaluru
Chetan and Chandresh; Ketaki Sheth; c. 1996; Silver gelatin print; 19 x 19 cm; Museum of Art & Photography (MAP), Bengaluru

In 1995, she moved to London, where she shot Twinspotting (1995–98), a series of staged photographs of twins from the diasporic Patel community in the UK and India. Her street photographs of Mumbai, taken between 1988–2004, were exhibited in Bombay Mix: Street Photographs, at Bodhi Art, Mumbai and Sepia International, New York (2008).

In 2005, Sheth began photographing the Sidi community of Gujarat, recording their daily rituals and community life, which were compiled in A Certain Grace: The Sidis, Indians of African Descent (2007). She made her switch to colour photography in Photo Studio (2015–18), an exhibition-cum-photobook that included images from sixty-nine photo studios situated across eight states in India.

Portrait of Falak, Bachubai Ki Wadi; Ketaki Sheth; c. 1990; Silver gelatin print; 29.5 x 45. 5 cm; Museum of Art & Photography (MAP), Bengaluru
Street Wedding, Bachubai Ki Wadi; Ketaki Sheth; c. 1990; Silver gelatin print; 29.5 x 45. 5 cm; Museum of Art & Photography (MAP), Bengaluru
Gauri Worship, Chowpatty; Ketaki Sheth; c. 1991; Silver gelatin print; 29.5 x 45. 5 cm; Museum of Art & Photography (MAP), Bengaluru
Down Under, Shipyard, Darukhana; Ketaki Sheth; c. 1990; Silver gelatin print; 29.5 x 45. 5 cm; Museum of Art & Photography (MAP), Bengaluru

Sheth’s work has been widely exhibited in India and abroad, including at Art Heritage Gallery, New Delhi; the National Gallery of Modern Art, Mumbai; Tate Modern, London; and the Peabody Essex Museum, Massachusetts. She was awarded the Sanskriti Award for Indian Photography in 1992.

At the time of writing, Sheth lives and works in Mumbai.