Artist profile · Saraswati Foundation collection
Jairam Patel
A pioneering Indian abstractionist and founding member of Group 1890, known for stark ink drawings and blowtorch-worked wood.
Awards & honours
- Lalit Kala Akademi National Awards (1957, 1963, 1973, 1984)
- National Award for Design (1976)
- Ravishankar Raval Award (1992)
- Kala Ratna, AIFACS (1997)
Biography
Born on 20 June 1930 in Sojitra, Gujarat, Jairam Patel studied drawing and painting at Sir J. J. School of Art, Bombay from 1950 to 1955, then typography and publicity design at Central School of Art and Craft, London from 1957 to 1959. He co-founded Group 1890 in 1962, taught at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Baroda from 1966 to 1990, and later served as dean. He became widely known for abstraction, ink drawing, and experimental blowtorch and burnt wood works. He died in Vadodara on 18 January 2016.
Exhibitions & residencies
- Tokyo Biennale (1957, 1963)
- São Paulo Biennale (1963, 1977)
- Lalit Kala Akademi International Triennale, New Delhi (1968, 1975, 1978, 1981)
- Festival of India graphic-print exhibition, USA (1985)
- Retrospective at Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (2016)
IN THE COLLECTION