Dr. Pramila Lochan is an art historian, researcher (musicology) and writer by profession besides nurturing keen interest and practise in Hindustani classical music for over four decades. She is engaged in research, documentation and writing since 1992 in the area of ragamala painting, mural paintings, ganjifa art, folk art, contemporary art and musicology.

Her contribution  includes extensive study and documentation of Mural Paintings of South India (ongoing since 2002), conceptualization and coordination of digitisation and catalogue documentation of Ganjifa cards in the collection of late Kishor Gordhandas for IGNCA, N.Delhi (2009),  co-curation in setting up an exclusive Gallery of Ganjifa cards for Heritage Village, Manipal (2009), study of ragamala paintings  and documentation of puppetry in South India (1992).

Books authored include:  Mural Paintings of Kancipuram ( with S. Subbaraman) : IGNCA: 2019,  Kalamandira: A.N.Subbarao, Paradigms and Beyond, Kalamandira – 2019;  Sarojini Devi-The Nightingale of India, Gandhi Centre of Science and Human Values, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan-2003; Contributory book chapter on  Mysore Ganjifa and The Art of Playing the Ganjifa Game-A Narrative Compilation, ‘Splendours of Ganjifa Art’, Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, 2019; Myths and Legends of Melukote, IGNCA SRC, 2017; and chapters, research papers and articles for edited research volumes and journals.

She has published over hundred feature articles on visual art and music for The Times of India, Deccan Herald, New Indian Express, The Hindu, March of Karnataka, Bhavan’s Journal and for a cultural monthly Ananya Kalasinchana,  featuring contemporary artists of Karnataka (Art and the Artist , 2015 -2020). Authored essays for art exhibition catalogues for eminent contemporary artists of India and interviewed well known artistes/ artists for All India Radio, Bangalore and for multimedia productions of IGNCA. She has conceptualised and coordinated several workshops, curated exhibitions, presented talks, attended seminars.

She holds a Ph.D and Masters degree in Art History (Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath), taught art history courses for undergraduate, postgraduate and for MPhil and PhD candidates at art colleges in Bengaluru. She was faculty and former Principal of Roerich Institute of Fine Arts,  and senior researcher at IGNCA SRC, Bengaluru. She was a Member of Karnataka Lalitkala Academy (2008-11) and GC Member, Lalit Kala Akademi.