Our Team

The Creative Minds Behind VARA

Led by renowned Indian artists Anoop Radhakrishnan and Rethish Ravi, our team of experienced artists and mentors brings together decades of expertise in traditional and digital illustration, sketching, painting, caricature, visual storytelling, and creative design.

Anoop Radhakrishnan
Founder and Director

Anoop Radhakrishnan

Hailing from Vyttila, Kochi, Anoop Radhakrishnan is a distinguished Artist, Cartoonist, Caricaturist, and Graphic Designer. Completed post-graduation in Commerce from Sacred Heart College, Thevara, Anoop's artistic journey has been marked by notable achievements, including the Lalithakala Akaademi State Award for Cartoon in 2021, the Cartoonist Yesudasan Smaraka Cartoon Award in 2022, and the National Environment Cartoon Award from the Chhattisgarh Government. Adding to his environmental focus, Anoop creates the cartoon column "WHAT ON EARTH" for CEEW, one of the largest policy institutions based in New Delhi. In the realm of leadership, Anoop, currently the Vice Chairman and former Secretary of the Kerala Cartoon Academy, has also served as the Festival Director of CariToon 2017, showcasing his organizational prowess in the realm of national cartoon and caricature festivals. He was also the award Jury Member for the Lalithkala Akademi State cartoon award 2024.

Rethish Ravi
Co-Founder, Curator and Academic Director

Rethish Ravi

Rethish Ravi is an award-winning caricaturist, illustrator, and art educator based in Perumanoor, Kochi. He holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in Painting from the prestigious RLV College of Music and Fine Arts, Tripunithura. Celebrated globally, Rethish is the winner of Caricaturama Showdown, an international caricature competition where he triumphed over thousands of artists worldwide. Among his notable achievements, he illustrated the cover page caricature of the President of India for the Kerala Cartoon Academy’s publication, Cartoon Pranam, which he personally presented at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. With over 15 years of experience entertaining audiences with his mesmerizing live caricature performances, Rethish also creates diverse illustration styles for print media and the film industry. He also serve as State Executive Committee Member of the Kerala Cartoon Academy

Arunraj
Art Educator

Arunraj

Arun Raj is a highly accomplished senior artist and digital illustrator originally from Nilambur, Kerala. He holds a KGCE in Fine Arts along with a Diploma in Multimedia, blending traditional foundational skills with modern digital techniques. With over 15 years of professional experience, Arun has served as a Senior Artist at Artribute Creatives Pvt. Ltd., a leading name in the art production industry. Specializing in both paintings and digital art, Arun is an active figure in the regional art community. He has been an integral part of the Kerala Chithrakala Parishath media cell and has seen his work featured many times in State Art Exhibitions.

Aishwarya Rethish
Art Educator

Aishwarya Rethish

Aishwarya Rethish is a trained visual artist, art educator and graphic designer with an MFA in Applied Arts, in which she secured First Rank. With experience in graphic design, visual communication and art education, she brings together professional design expertise and a deep passion for nurturing creativity. Over the years, Aishwarya has participated in numerous art camps and exhibitions organised by reputed institutions, including the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi, Kerala Chithrakala Parishath, MG University Union and the College of Fine Arts. As an art educator, she is passionate about creating an environment where students can explore, experiment and develop their artistic abilities with confidence. Her teaching approach combines structured learning with practical, hands-on experiences, encouraging creativity, observation and individual expression. At VARA -The Art Club, Aishwarya plays an important role in shaping the club's approach to art education and creative learning. Her diverse background in art, design and education helps VARA create meaningful artistic experiences for children, adults and anyone looking to discover or develop their creative potential.