Born, 1942, at Bangladesh; artist Jagdish Dey graduated from School of Art, Delhi polytechnic in 1963, He then served as Faculty member, College of Art, New Delhi from 1965–2002.
Jagdish Dey’s early paintings were transformed landscapes, based on his flights of fancy. It showed in a surrealistic fashion, cloud like forms ethereally suspended in air. The whole situation was like a dream, where the real and unreal coexist.
The artist later moved onto figurative representations. These too are seeped in surrealism. Dey’s surreal portrayals of women in dream like sequences is distinct. Infact, he paints both men and women is a surrealist fashion, trying to capture the intricate music of their myriad moods and emotions. Yet another recurring motif in his work is that of the peacock that is often seen in the company of female figures. It acts as a means of communication between figures. He also uses the trope of the flying female figure in dreamlike mystic situations which helps create a harmonious relationship with the surroundings.
The artist has been awarded AIFACS Awards in 1969,1982, Sahitya Kala Parishad’s Award in 1981,82,89, Senior fellowship awarded by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India in 1998 and National Academy Award by Lalit Kala Academy,2000. His works have been exhibited at Triveni Kala Sangam in 1966,1979,1981, Dhoomimal Gallery in 1990,92,94,2001, Taj Art Gallery, Mumbai in 1985,92,94,96,98, Sanskriti Art Gallery, Kolkata 1993 and Jehangir Art gallery.
Jagdish Dey lives and works in Delhi.