ACHUTHAN KUDALLUR(B.1945)
Born in Kerala. He has held solo exhibitions at JehangirArtGalleryand Pundole Galleryin Mumbai (2003), VinyasaArtGallery, Chennai (2002), Winsor Manor Water Colours, Bangalore (2001), apart from several significant group and solo shows held in India and abroad. He was appointed the Commissioner for the Indian Section of Tenth Triennale, New Delhiin 2001, and won the NationalAcademyAwardin 1988 and the TamilNaduLalitKalaAcademy Awardin 1982. He was commissioned work for Air India, Mumbai, in 1991. His work can be seen at Glenberra Collection, Japan, NationalGallery of Modern Art, New Delhi, Karnataka Lalit Kala Academy Bangalore, Lalit Kala Regional Centre, Bank of America, Best & Crompton, Chennai, Lalit Kala Academy Bhubaneshwar, BirlaAcademy of Art & Culture, Kolkata, Evnst W Koelnsperger Studious and Eallerie Muller & Plate Petermuller, Munchen, among others.
AJAY DE(B.1967)
Graduated from GovernmentCollegeof Arts and Crafts, Kolkata and he did his post graduation from Sir JJ School of Arts, Mumbai. His solo exhibitions have been held at various prominent art galleries in Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Kolkata and Tokyo. He has also participated in group shows in New York, Dubai, Mumbai, Pune and New Delhiapart from several other exhibitions organized by reputed institutions across India.
AKBAR PADAMSEE, studied at Sir JJ School of Arts, and Ecole des Beaux Art, Paris. With a number of exhibitions and accolades, he is one of the most respected painters of our country. Progressing through a series of innovations, Padamsee’s best known work comprises his series of ‘Metascapes’. He has also used Chinese ink and produced some expressive heads. Over the years, He has traveled these two roads with distinct success.
AKHILESH(B.1956)
Born in Indore. He holds a NationalDiploma in Painting from College of Fine Arts, Indore (1977). Akhilesh has 24 solo shows and numerous group show participations in India and abroad to his credit. He has traveled extensively across India to collect tribal art and has also participated in Contemporary Indian Art exhibitions in Japan, Russia, America and France. He represents India as a Member of the Chamalieres Triennale Committee, France, and has also delivered a lecture on Contemporary Art of India’ at the TowsonUniversity, Baltimore, USA. He has written many books on art and has translated Mark Chagall’s autobiography in Hindi.
ALOK BAL(B.1969)
Born in Orissa, completed his BFA from Faculty of Fine Arts, MS University, Vadodara (2001). He has participated in various exhibitions like ‘Use/Throw Collaborate Show’, Sara Arrakal Gallery, Bangalore (2005); ‘Grave in the Ocean’, SarjanArtGallery; ‘Tribute to Bhupen Khaker’, TAOArtGallery, Mumbai; 45thNationalExhibition of Art, Guwahati and New Delhi. He also participated at Tulika Kala Parishad, Udaipur, AIFACS, Ahmedabad, GujaratStateLalitKalaAcademy and OrissaLalitKalaAcademy. He has been part of group shows like the ‘Feb Group Show’ and had a presence at NazarArtGallery, Vadodara, JehangirArtGallery, Son-Et-LumiereArtGallery, Mumbai etc. Alok has won numerous Awards like the NationalScholarship, Government of India (1998). His collection of work can be seen at various private collections in India.
ANGELI SOWANI graduated in Graphic Design from the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, before turning to painting. In her more recent paintings, She combines elements of traditional Chinese ‘Ancestor’ paintings with Buddhist and Hindu symbolisms, akin to Tibetan ‘Thanka’ paintings. Although She has moved from depicting the paired intertwined duality figures into more abstract forms, her new paintings retain the exploratory spirit, vibrant colours and the visual calm of her earlier works. She has traveled extensively in Indonesia and Cambodia and has participated in various group shows in India and abroad. She has also held solo shows in Hong Kong, Bangkok and Mumbai. .
ANWAR(B.1964),
Secured his NationalDiploma in Fine Artsfrom Gwalior in 1985. One of the most glorious products of Bhopal’s Bharat Bhavan, his work has been exhibited at major art galleries across India. He has had more exhibition exposure than can be effortlessly recorded. And so is the story of his Awards, which include the Senior Fellowship, Government of India, and the AIFACS Award. Bold and innovative in his rigorously structured paintings, he is the final word in brilliant abstraction.
BABU ESHWAR PRASAD (B.1968)
Born in Hassan, Karnataka. He finiShed his BFA in Painting from College of Fine Arts, Bangalore (1989) and MFA in Graphics, Faculty of Fine Arts, MS University, Vadodara (1992). He has held solo shows like ‘Smiles and Shadows’, Sakshi Gallery (2002) and ‘Still Lives of Emptiness’, Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, Bangalore (1999). In addition, He has participated in group shows like “Video Art”, Max Mueller Bhavan, Crimson Gallery, GallerySara Arakkal; “Drishti’, Lalit Kala Academy , Chennai (2004); ‘Creative Space’, Indian Habitat Centre, New Delhi; Finding the Centre at the Margins’, Apparao Galleries, Chennai; Excerpts from Diary Pages’, The Fine Art Company, Mumbai (2002); besides a host of shows across the nation. Babu is a recipient of many Awards like the Camlin Art Foundation Award(1999-2001), Karnataka Lalit Kala Academy (2002) HK Kejriwal Young Artist Award (1998), All India Fine ArtsAward, Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath (1995) as well as National Scholarship and Junior Fellowship, Government of India (1989-’91,’97). His collection of work can be seen at the NationalGallery of Modern Art, KarnatakaLalitKalaAcademy, West Zone Cultural Centre, Udaipur, Alliance Francaise, Bangalore, besides other in India and abroad.
BAHAR ADITYA is self-taught artist who lives and works in complete anonymity. Bahar works on the Rangoli Series, and draws inspiration from this very Indian art form found at the doorsteps of most Indian homes. Bahar is also a great colorist and this inspiration from the Rangoli motifs is an attempt to present this art in a style and method which are very much distinctive.
BAIJU PARTHAN(B.1956)
Achieved fame at an early age. His qualifications are impressive- BSc in Botany, BFA in Painting, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Comparative Mythology. All this explains why he is our latest cult figure-steeped in myth, iconography and plain good textured art. Baiju Parthan has held successful solo exhibitions in Mumbai, New Delhiand Goa. He has also participated in major group shows in Kolkata, Mumbai, New Yorkand other places. His creative forays in new media and installations include necessary illusions with 24 cups of Coffee at Lakeeren Art Gallery in Mumbai, ‘Code’ at NationalGallery of Modern Art in Mumbai, and ‘The Crossing’ a the Kala Ghoda Art District in Mumbai, the Kalidas Academy, Ujjain. He has participated in camps and exhibitions in various parts of the country and has held solo shows at The Heritage in Chennai, JehangirArtGalleryand the Art Walk Gallery, Mumbai.
BHARTI PRAJAPATI(B.1962), has studied Textile Design from Sophiya Polytechnic, Mumbai and then from National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad. Bharti has worked for various export organizations and textile mills as Design Director. Her solo exhibitions have been held at Objects of Desire, Bangalore, Ravishankar Raval Kala Bhavan, Ahmedabad, and CymrozaArtGallery, Mumbai, while She has also participated in various other exhibitions in Singapore, New York, New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai. She was also invited to paint with other artists at Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, Bangalore, as a mark of celebration of 50 years of India’s Independence.
BOSE KRISHNAMACHARI(B.1963)
Studied Fine Artsat the Kerala Kala Peetom, BFA at Sir JJ School of Arts and MFA at GoldsmithsCollege. Having participated in group shows in India and abroad, He has also held many solo exhibitions including, ‘Music of the Cubes’, British Council, Mumbai, ‘Amuseum’, Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai and ‘Objects of Attention’, Aparna Kaur Gallery, New Delhi. Among the accolades He has received are the ‘Face of 93’ by The illustrated Weekly of India, the Kerala Lalit Kala Academy Award, Sir JJ Kala School of Art Fellowship, Bombay Art Society Award, British Council Awardto travel to UK, Mid America ArtsAwardto travel to USA and the Charles Wallace Award.
G R IRANNA(B.1970)
Secured his BFA (Painting) from College of Visual Art, Gulbarga, and his MFA (Painting) from College of Art, New Delhi. He is known for his rough-textured, angry canvases. He has received the KK Hebbar Foundation Award(2002), State Awardfrom Karnataka Lalit Kala Academy, Bangalore (2001), NationalAwardfrom Lalit Kala Academy (1997), followed by the AIFACS Award, New Delhi, the Sate AcademyAward, Karnataka Lalit Kala Academy, and ‘In Search of Talent’ – a selection Awardmonitored by MF Hussain and Ram Kumar for Vadhera Art Gallery, New Delhi(1993). He has held solo shows at The British Council, Mumbai, The Guild Art Gallery, Mumabi, ‘In the shadow of Buddha’ in Gallery Martini, Hong Kong, College of Visual Art, Gulbarga, ‘Edge Dynamics’ in Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai, Foyer Art Gallery, Wimbledon School of Art, London, and at Gallery Espace, New Delhi. Besides these, He has participated in many group shows and camps.
GANESH PYNE(B.1937)
Born in Kolkatta. He studied at the GovernmentCollege of Art & Crafts from where he received his Diploma in 1959. He experienced with various media before settling for a self-developed form of tempera, while still using pen and ink as well as water colour. He has participated in numerous exhibitions, including the I and II International Triennales, New Delhi(1968,’71), the Paris Biennale (1970) and many others in Europe and Asia. He was the recipient of the KolkataArt Society Award(1973), and the Shiromony Purashkar (1985). Pyne’s work can be found in the permanent collections of many National and International museums, including the NationalGallery of Modern Art, New Delhi, The Birla Academy of Fine Art, Kolkata, the LalitKalaAcademy,New Delhi, and in many private and public collections.
GOPAL CHOWDHURY(B.1965)
Born in Kolkata. He received his DVA in Painting from Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata in 1993. He participated in several exhibitions, group and solo exhibitions. His works are apart of many personnel collections in India and abroad. Gopal is the recipient of a scholarship form Kanoria Centre for Arts, Ahmedabad (2000-01).
GURCHARAN SINGH(B.1949)
Studied at the Collegeof Arts & Crafts, Chandigargh. He has held solo exhibitions in major art galleries in Chandigarh, New Delhi, Mumbai, Paris and Canada. One of our most outstanding figurative painters, he paints ordinary folk, men women, children and dogs on a vast scale. His works are on display at the LalitKalaAcademy,New Delhi, NationalGallery of Art, New Delhiand India House, Paris.
HAKU SHAHcompleted his Post Graduation in Fine Artsfrom MS University, Vadodara, in 1959. He is a recipient of the Nehru Fellowship Awardfor Research in Tribal Art of Gujarat. He is also the proud recipient of the acclaimed Padma Shri Award, confirmed by the President of India. He has held solo exhibitions at Ashok Gallery, Kolkata, BadeMuseum, Berkely, USA, Chermound Gallery, Mumbai, among others.
JAGANNATH PAUL is graduate (First class) from GovernmentCollegeof Arts & Craft (2000). He has held solo shows at Academy of Fine ArtsKolkata (2000); World Trade Centre Arcade, Mumbai (2003); IndianArtGallery, Pune (2003); Pradarshak, Mumbai (2004) and Nehru Centre, Mumbai (2004). He participated in group shows at Annual Exhibition of GovernmentCollegeof Arts & Craft, Kolkata (1995-2000); All India Annual Exhibition, Indian Society of Oriental Arts, Kolkata (1996,’98,’99); Birla Academyof Arts and Culture, Mumbai and Kolkata (2002-03); The Bombay Art Society Annual Show (2003-05); and Art Society of India Annual Show, Mumbai (2003-04). He has won the AcademyAwardfrom Academy of Fine Arts(1996), Gopan Roy Awardfrom Indian Society of Oriental Arts (1996), Camlin Award, Mumbai (2001), Hindustan Pencil Limited Awardfrom Bombay Art Society (2003); the Governor Award(2001); besides CollegeAwards. Jagannath also received the Gopal Ghosh Scholarship, GovernmentCollegeof Arts & Craft (1996), and AIFACS Scholarship, New Delhi(1997). His work can be seen in many private collections both in India and abroad.
JAIDEEP MEHROTRA(B.1954)
One of the most renowned artists of his generation. Over the years, He has exhibited oils, acrylics, resin and fabric sculptures, digital lithographs and mixed media works. His woks are part of co-operate and individual collections in as many as 12 countries. He has held solo exhibitions at the Taj Art Gallery Mumbai, max Mulleller Bhavan and other such centers. His group shows include ‘Mother Teresa’, a show sponsored by RPG, ’50 years of Art in Bombay’ at the NationalGallery of Modern Art in Mumbai, ‘ Masters for a Child’ in Dubai, and the Video/Audio installation ‘Flashback Flash forward’ sponsored by RPG in Mumbai. Besides being a life-member of the Art Society of Mumbai, he is a freelance writer for various publications on art.
JAYASRI BURMAN(B.1960)
Studied at the Kala Bhavan in Shantiniketan and the College of Visual Art, Kolkata, following which She was under the guidance of Monsieur Ceizerzi, France. She was felicitated with Awards by the College of Visual Arts in tempera for outstanding merit in the annual exhibition. She also received the NationalAwardand certificate of merit at eh All Indiayouth art exhibition. She has held several solo exhibitions at the Chitrakoot Gallery, Kolkata, pundole Gallery, Mumbai Gallerie Ganesha, Delhi. She has been part of exhibitions in Egypt, Paris, Germany, New Delhi, Jodhpur and Bhopal.
JEHANGIR JANI(B.1955) is a commerce graduate turned artist. He has held solo exhibitionstitled ‘A point of view’ (1994), ‘Recent works’ (1992), ‘Bhakti’ (1991) and ‘Different one’ (1990). Apart from these, He has also participated in various group exhibitions including ‘Shakti’, Mumbai, and ‘Art for Ashrya’, Bangalore. Starting out with medleys of spectral figures, he achieved admirable maturity with the work done in the Art Trust Camp at Marve. Some of Jani’s sculptured installations have really caught the eye.
JITISH KALLAT(B.1974)
Studied Painting at Sir JJ School of Arts, Mumbai, and is currently a part of the school’s faculty. He has held seven solo shows in Mumbai, Delhi, New Yorkand Chennai. He has participated in over sixty exhibitions and has represented India in major International exhibitions including ‘CenturyCity’ at Tata Modern in London, Havana Biennale in Cuba, 1st Kukuoka Asian Art Triennial, Japan, and Inneseite in Kassel, Germany. Jitish is the recipient of the KK Hebbar Art Foundation Awardand an Awardfrom Sir JJ School of Arts, Mumbai. He also Awarded ‘Emerging Artists of the Year’ at the Harmony Show 2002.
JOGEN CHOWDHURY(B.1939) is one of our most distinguiShed artists. After studying in Kolkata, he went to the Des be Aux-Arts and William Haters atelier 17, both in Paris. He has been a reader in Shantiniketan for a few years. His work featured in many festivals of India held in the eighties. His paintings, with their mischievous stress on satire, are in Washington’s hirshormMuseum. The pulse and rhythm of Jogen Chowdhury’s art comes from a filial affinity to nature and milieu. In Chowdhury’s more recent works the sensory experiences of cloth, bolsters, sofas and the human are cross-projected to produce an uncanny world of transubstantiated tumescence and flaccidness. Chowdhury’s art is rich in suggestions, it is to be apprehended without bracketing our fund of knowledge, experience or memories. Besides, it also cannot be narrativised without trivializing it, without depleting its sensory particularities.
KAHINI ARTE MERCHANT(B.1960)
Received her early education in India and England. In 1979, She secured her Diploma (1st Class), from Sir JJ School of Arts, Mumbai. She has exhibited her paintings widely both here and abroad. She has held number of solo shows like ‘The Fractured Dream’, ‘An Invented Memory’ and ‘Altered Images’ at Jehangir Art Gallery, and ‘Evening’ at the Taj Art Gallery in Mumbai. Among her group exhibitions are the Miniature Format Show and ‘Monsoon’ in the Millennium’, both at the Sans Tache Gallery, Intex Universal in Dubai, the Bombay Art Society invitees show at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai the Soulcurry.com online exhibition curetted by Anjolie Ela Menon, and many one.
KRISHEN KHANNA(B.1928)
Studied at the AmericanUniversity, WashingtonDC. He has been awarded the Padma Shri, the Baghdad Biennale President Award, and the New DelhiTriennale gold medal. He has held over 30 solo exhibitions and participated in group exhibitions in Japan, USA, Zurich, UK and Italy. His works are part of collections in the Museum of Modern Art, New York, the American University, Washigton D.C, The Demenil foundation, Houston, Texas, The Ben and Abbey Grey Foundation, St.Paul, Minnesota, the contemporary Art Society of great Britain and the University museum, Singapore, apart from other collections in India and aboard.
LAILA KHAN RAJPAL(B.1970)
Born in Mumbai. She is a graduate in English Literature from SophiaCollege, Mumbai, and has studied Fine Art at the Slade School of Fine Art, London. Her first solo show was held at Indian habitat centre, New Delhi. She has participated in the IndiaArt Show (held in association with Samina inc. and Rossi & Rossi), New Delhi(2001), the Visual ArtsGallery in London, at rosy & rosy Gallery, London (2001), an exhibition titled ‘art and cinema’ at the India habitat centre and the harvest show 2002 in New Delhi. Her work was included in an auction presented by the Arts trust, conducted by Christie’s.