Journey from Pune to Oxford: Prachi Dhabal Deb Redefining Edible Art
Digital Desk
Prachi Dhabal Deb’s journey to Oxford has been shaped by patience, discipline, and belief in her craft. Today, the Pune-based royal icing artist is India’s first from her field to be appointed as an Associate Artist at the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies.
Royal icing is a challenging medium that demands precision and consistency. Over the past decade, Prachi has built a deep understanding of this craft, using it to create detailed edible structures inspired by Indian architecture and heritage.
Her work goes beyond visual appeal. Each creation reflects tradition, cultural memory, and spiritual symbolism. By choosing an edible and temporary medium, Prachi challenges the idea that art must be permanent to be meaningful.
A major milestone in her practice was the invention of a vegan royal icing formula. This allowed her to align her work with ethical values while expanding the scale and scope of her creations.
Prachi’s work has earned international awards, world records, and invitations to judge global competitions. Yet her focus has remained on continuous learning and refining her craft.
Oxford’s recognition highlights the importance of creative practice as a form of cultural knowledge. In her role, Prachi will share insights on how edible art can contribute to discussions on heritage and creativity.
“I see this as an opportunity to show that craft and art can stand on the same platform,” Prachi said. “I hope it inspires others to trust their creative path.
