Born in 1966, Varanasi, Shah graduated in Painting in 1988. She did her post-graduation in Print-making in 1990. She later earned a Ph.D. in History of Art in 1998 from Banaras Hindu University.
She has participated in more than 70 exhibitions held nationally and internationally in Japan, Korea, USA, UK, the Netherlands, France, India, Vienna, Indonesia, China, Scotland, and Bangladesh.
Seema is the head of the vital branch of Excellent Arts at Tribhuban College, Kathmandu. She earned her BFA in painting and has an MFA and a Ph.D. in Printmaking. Her artwork depicts a sense of tranquility and spiritual harmony, drawing on 'assemblages' of Hindu and Buddhist mythologies.