An architect, a sculptor and a senior artist, Satish Gujral dons many hats. He is one of the most experimental artists in the history of modern Indian art. Gujral’s experiments cover a broad canvas encompassing spheres of Plastic Art, Graphics, Paintings, Sculptures, Murals, Object Design and Architecture.
Satish Gujral was born in 1925 in Jhelum, belonging to the then Punjab under the rule of British India. He joined the Mayo School of Arts in Lahore in the eyar 1939 in order to study applied arts. After graduating from there, he moved to Mumbai in 1944and took admission at the Sir J.J. School of Art where he studied from 1944 to 1947. In 1947,a recurring sickness forced him to drop out of the school and he eventually completed his education in the year 1949. He left for Mexico in 1952after he was granted a scholarship from the Mexican Embassy. There, he completed his apprenticeship under well known artists Diego Rivera and David Alfaro Siqeuiros.
Satish Gujral has been felicitated with the Order of the Crown for Architecture ( Belgium ) as well as many other honours. He has participated in various biennales including Venice, Tokyo and Sao Paulo.
Satish Gujral has also won tremendous acclaim s an architect. His building of the Belgium Embassy in New Delhi has been selected by the International Forum of Architects as one of the one of the best thousand buildings built in 20thc century across the world.
Dozens of documentaries have been made on his work an four books of his work have been published including an autobiography.
Education
1952-54 Palacio Nationale de Belles Artes, Mexico
1944-47 Diploma in Fine Arts, Sir J. J. School of Arts, Mumbai
1939-44 Mayo School of Arts, Lahore
Student of D.A. Sequeiros [Mural Techniques]
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2016 A Brush with Life', Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA), New Delhi
2015 'The World of Satish Gujral', Aakriti Art Gallery, Kolkata
2011 'Eyes on Life', Aakriti Art Gallery, Kolkata
2011 'Ascending Energy: Merging Forms by Satish Gujral', Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
2010 'Tryst with Modernity and Tradition', Jehangir Art Gallery; Cymroza Art Gallery, Mumbai
2009Aakriti Art Gallery, Kolkata
2008 ‘Reincarnated Forms: Glimpses of a Glorious Life Relived’, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
2007 ‘The Third Dimension’, Sculptures by Satish Gujral, Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai
2007 ‘The Energy of Creation’, Drawings and Paintings by Satish Gujral, Cymroza Art Gallery, Mumbai
2006 ‘Satish Gujral: A Retrospective 1948-2006’, National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi
2005 'Satish Gujral: 2001-2005’, Paintings, Drawings and Sculptures at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
2004 ‘Satish Gujral: Prismatic Colors’, Gallery ArtsIndia, New York
2001 ‘Gujral: Paintings, Drawings and Sculpture’, Visual Art Gallery, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi
2001 'Satish Gujral’s: Paintings, Drawings and Sculptures', Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
1998 'Satish Gujral: Paintings, Drawings and Granites', Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi
1998 'Satish Gujral: Paintings and Sculptures', Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
1995 'Satish Gujral: Paintings, Drawings and Sculptures', Art Today, New Delhi
1993 'Satish Gujral: Paintings and Sculptures', Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
1990 'Satish Gujral: Brunt Woods and Architecture', Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
1990 ‘Gujral ’90: Icons’, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
1990 ‘Satish Gujral: Iconic Paintings and Architecture’, Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Kolkata
1986 Retrospective, Rabindra Bhavan, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
1986 Art Heritage, New Delhi
1986 Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal
1980 'Satish Gujral: Black Woods’, Dhoomimal Gallery, New Delhi.
1978 'Brunt Woods', New Delhi.
1974 Gallery Chanakya, New Delhi.
1972 Mumbai
1971 'Metal Sculptures', Vesline University, USA.
1971 Chicago.
1969-70 'Metal Sculptures’, New Delhi
1969-70 Murals, New Delhi, Ahmedabad, Chennai and Kolkata
1968 'Paper Collages’, New York, Finland, Sweden, Madrid, USSR, Mexico, Peru, Argentina & Brazil.
1967 'Paper Collages', Mumbai
1966 'Paper Collages', New Delhi
1964 New Delhi.
1964Foram Gallery, New York.
1963Shridharani Gallery, Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi
1963 Mumbai
1961 New York.
1961 Asoka Gallery, Kolkata
1961Traveled with Ex.s | Cairo, Mexico, Rome, Frankfurt, Paris, London, Montreal, Hawaii and Tokyo
1960 Mumbai
1959 Kolkata
1956 London.
1956 Mumbai
1956 New Delhi.
1955 New York, London, Mumbai
1954 New York.
1953 Mexico
1952 Organized by Delhi Silpi Chakra, New Delhi at Dhoomimal Art Gallery, New Delhi Selected Group Exhibitions
2010 '10 x 10', Gallery Threshold, New Delhi
2009 'Think Small', Art Alive Gallery, New Delhi
2009 'Beyond the Form', Bajaj Capital Art House; Visual Art Gallery, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi and Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
2008 'Frame Figure Field: 20th Century Modern and Contemporary Indian Art', Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi
2008 'Baisakh 08', Polka Art Gallery, New Delhi
2008 'X at the rate of Jehangir', presented by Art Musings at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
2008 ‘Winter Modern’s’, Aicon, New York
1960 Group Show with six other Artists: M.F. Husain, Mohan Samant, V. S. Gaitonde, Ram Kumar, K.S. Kulkarni, Krishen Khanna Participations
2015 'Abby Grey and Indian Modernism: Selections from the NYU Art Collection', Grey Art Gallery, New York University, New York
2014 'Ode to Monumental: Celebration, Visuality, Ideology', presented by Saffronart at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi and Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
2012 'Synergy 2012', 12th Anniversary Show, Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai
2011 'Ethos V: Indian Art Through the Lens of History (1900 to 1980), Indigo Blue Art, Singapore
2011 ‘Manifestations VI', Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi
2011 ‘Manifestations V', Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi
2011 'Celebrations 2011', Kumar Gallery, New Delhi
2010 'Art Celebrates 2010', represented by GallerieGanesha at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi to coincide with the hosting of the Commonwealth Games
2010 'Evolve: 10th Anniversary Show', Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai
2010 Annual Exhibition, Chawla Art Gallery, New Delhi
2010 ‘Manifestations IV', Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi
2010 'Celebration 2010', Annual Exhibition, Kumar Art Gallery, New Delhi
2008-09 'Paz Mandala', Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
1995 Exhibition 'Indian Contemporary Paintings', Christies Auction, London
1992 'Indian, European & Oriental Paintings & Works of Art', Sotheby's Auction, New Delhi
1991 'National Exposition of Contemporary Art', National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA)
1973 National Exhibition, Rabindra Bhavan, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi (LKNA: Construction I).
1957 National Exhibition at Rabindra Bhavan, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi (LKNA: The Condemned).
1956 National Exhibition at Rabindra Bhavan, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi (LKNA: Despair)
Honours and Awards
2010 Amity Lifetime Achievement Award for art, Amity School of Fine Arts
2004-05 Honored at Golden Jubilee Celebration of National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA)
2004 Lalit Kala RatnaPuraskar, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
2000 Honorary Doctorate, Visva Bharti University, Santiniketan
1998 Padma Vibhushan, Government of India
1996 Honorary Doctorate, Vishakapatnam University
1989Honored by the Delhi Citizens’ Council as one of 25 most prominent citizens of India
1989 Da Vinci Award for Life Time Achievement, Mexico
1989Desikottama, Santiniketan
1984 Order of the Crown, conferred by Belgium for Designing the Belgian Embassy in New Delhi
1983Honored by the Government of India
1974Honored by the Government of Punjab
1974 National Award for his Sculpture titled ‘Construction’, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
1957 National Award for his Painting titled ‘The Condemned’, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
1956 National Award for his Painting titled ‘Despair’, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
1944Burmah Shell Scholarship to study Art, Mumbai
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