Dr Lakshmi Bose is an independent artist, former researcher and lecturer in political sociology at the University of Cambridge, where she remains a consultant at the Hannah Arendt Consortium on Crisis and Political Transformation. Her deep interest in political change and a background in theatre/visual arts enabled her to bridge her academic expertise with the realm of cultural production. She works across a variety of mediums to foster nuanced public conversations around philosophy, conflict, and social transformation. 

Using art and storytelling to illuminate research for the public,  Lakshmi has written and illustrated research-informed graphic novellas (The Sociological Review, Green European Journal), developed immersive exhibits on visual storytelling, and led workshops on rethinking research communication. In 2023, she wrote and directed The Disciple, a theatrical production for local UK cultural venues that explored the populist political machinations of ancient Greece. She has also directed a docu-short about sustainability in the UK floral industry, and has produced multiple ethnographic films exploring marginalised and disappearing cultures (see Nonna and Holy Brother).

Lakshmi also works as a public educator and has led a variety of arts-based workshops across the UK, Europe and South Africa focusing on preserving oral histories and elevating diverse perspectives. She guides participants to experiment with different visual methods to narrate their own lived experiences.

When not otherwise engaged, you can find her doodling away on her pet project, a graphic novel called Smallpox Jane.