Shailee Thakkar is an interdisciplinary artist practicing in Austin, Texas. Her work explores themes of labor, time, and control within systems of power such as families, social communities, and art institutions. Language is often used by such institutions to establish control over information, speech, and movement. Thakkar sets rules for each project and then uses transparency, redaction, removal, and retention to amplify or diminish the power of those words through her work.

Born in India, Thakkar lived in the bustling town of Anand and spent most of her childhood in her birthplace of Godhra. She grew up watching her family members make cards, knitwear, and dyed handkerchiefs. At the age of eight, she started taking art classes and participating in school and community art contests. After moving to the United States at the age of 12, Thakkar continued to practice art within her school. 

Thakkar received her MFA in Studio Arts from Massachusetts College of Art and Design in May, 2026. She holds a BA in Biochemistry from the University of Texas at Austin and an AA in Studio Art from Austin Community College. Thakkar is a former high school science teacher.