• K G Subramanyan

    K G Subramanyan was born in Kuthuparamba, North Malabar, Kerela in the year 1924.

    K.G. Subramanyan is among the few artists who have explored the possibilities of modern art from a different perspective, giving new dimensions to the human figure by making them appear more as characters from various myths and traditional narratives, populating a composition quite the contrary. As an artist he is extraordinarily versatile, cherishing the facility to work in diverse media, sizes, and techniques over a stylistic conformity to a single medium, genre, size, technique, and manner of visualization.

    A prolific writer, scholar, teacher and art historian, Subramanyan uses his in-depth knowledge of various artistic traditions to create fantastical images of wit and eroticism that are universal in their appeal, yet coupled with iconic symbols drawn from Indian legends and folklore. Subramanyan has time and again aimed at blurring the boundaries between art and the artisan. The artist has also dabbled in glass painting and toy making, even weaving, which is generally considered ‘artisanal’. Even in his written works, the exploration of art as a language or means of communication is a recurring theme. Subramanyan has also illustrated as well as authored fiction for children.

  • Education

    • 1955-56 British Council Research Fellowship to Slade School of Art, University of London
    • 1944-48 Kala Bhavan, Visva Bharati University, Santiniketan
    • 1942-43 B.A.(Hons.) in Economics, Presidency College, Chennai

  • Exibitions

    • 2011 'An Inner Fire', Art Alive.

    Selected Solo Exhibitions

    • 2014 'New Works by K.G.

    Selected Solo Exhibitions

    • 2014 'New Works by K.G. Subramanyan', presented by The Seagull Foundation for the Arts, Kolkata in association with Chandigarh Lalit Kala Akademi at the Government Museum & Arts Gallery, Chandigarh
    • 2014 'New Works', presented by The Seagull Foundation for the Arts, Kolkata at India Habitat Centre and Art Heritage, New Delhi
    • 2014 'New Works by K G Subramanyan', Red Earth Gallery, Vadodara
    • 2013-14 'Mythologies', on the eve of 25th Anniversary of Gallerie 88, Kolkata
    • 2010 Presented by Art Heritage at Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi
    • 2010 'The Drawings of K. G. Subramanyan', The Guild, Mumbai
    • 2010 'Bangladesh Drawings', Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai
    • 2010 Art Musings, Mumbai
    • 2009 'Magic of Making: Recent Artworks by K.G. Subramanyan', at Akar Prakar, Aakriti Art Gallery and The Seagull Foundation for the Arts, Kolkata
    • 2009 Presented by Seagull Foundation for the Arts, in Collaboration with Nandan Gallery, Kala Bhavana, Kolkata
    • 2007 ‘The Painted Platters’, The Guild Art Gallery, Mumbai
    • 2007 ‘The Magic of Making’, presented by The Seagull Foundation for the Arts at The Seagull Arts and Media Resource Centre, Kolkata and Rabindra Bhawan, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
    • 2006 Art Heritage, New Delhi
    • 2006 Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Gujarat
    • 2005 ‘Recent Paintings’, presented by Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
    • 2004 The Guild Art Gallery, Mumbai
    • 2004 Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi
    • 2003 ‘K.G. Subramanyan : A Retrospective’, National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi and Mumbai
    • 2003 ‘K.G. Subramanyan : Recent Paintings’, Art Heritage, New Delhi
    • 2003 ‘Paintings in Enamel’, The Seagull Arts and Media Resource Centre, Kolkata
    • 2003 ‘Chairs: An Exhibition of Recent Work’, The Seagull Arts and Media Resource Centre, Kolkata
    • 2002 ‘Exhibition of Paintings by Prof. K.G. Subramanyan’, Sarjan Art Gallery, Vadodara, Gujarat
    • 2001 Art Heritage, New Delhi
    • 2000 ‘K.G. Subramanyan’, Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi
    • 2000 Art Heritage, New Delhi
    • 1999 The Seagull Arts and Media Resource Centre, Kolkata
    • 1999 Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai
    • 1999 Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi
    • 1999 ‘K.G. Subramanyan – Dissolving Contradictions’, The Window, Mumbai
    • 1998 ‘K.G. Subramanyan : Paintings and Drawings’, organized by Seagull Foundation for the Arts, Kolkata at Art Heritage, New Delhi
    • 1998 ‘A Recent Series of Large Paintings by Prof. K.G. Subramanyan’, Art Heritage, New Delhi
    • 1998 ‘K.G. Subramanyan : Paintings and Drawings’, Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai
    • 1997 Nazar Gallery, Vadodara, Gujarat
    • 1997 ‘K.G. Subramanyan’, Cymroza Art Gallery, Mumbai
    • 1996 Art Heritage, New Delhi
    • 1994 ‘Exhibition of Paintings by K.G. Subramanyan’, Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai
    • 1994 ‘K.G. Subramanyan Recent Works’, Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
    • 1993 ‘Exhibition of Paintings by K.G. Subramanyan’, Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai
    • 1993 Art Heritage, New Delhi
    • 1992 ‘K.G. Subramanyan, Exhibition of Paintings’, Sakshi Gallery, Synergy Art Foundation, Bangalore and Chennai
    • 1992 Art Heritage, New Delhi
    • 1991 ‘Exhibition of Paintings by K.G. Subramanyan’, Kala Yatra and Sista’s Art Gallery, Bangalore, Karnataka
    • 1990 Cymroza Art Gallery, Mumbai
    • 1990 Gallery 7, Mumbai
    • 1990 CCA Gallery, New Delhi
    • 1989 Cymroza Art Gallery, Mumbai
    • 1989 ‘Of Myth and Fairy Tale, Recent Works- K.G. Subramanyan’, Seagull Foundation and Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Kolkata
    • 1988 ‘Exhibition of Acrylic Sheet Paintings’, Museum of Modern Art, Oxford
    • 1986 ‘Exhibition of Acrylic Sheet Paintings’, Art Heritage, New Delhi
    • 1986 Cymroza Art Gallery, Mumbai
    • 1986 Gallery 7, Mumbai
    • 1986 Centre for Contemporary Art Gallery, New Delhi
    • 1985 Art Heritage, New Delhi
    • 1984 ‘Retrospective’, Art Heritage, New Delhi
    • 1983 ‘Retrospective K.G. Subramanyan’, Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Kolkata
    • 1982 ‘Exhibition of Glass and Acrylic Sheet Paintings’, Art Heritage, New Delhi
    • 1982 ‘Exhibition of Glass and Acrylic Sheet Paintings’, Nandan Gallery, Santiniketan, West Bengal
    • 1981 ‘Retrospective’, Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
    • 1980 Art Heritage, New Delhi
    • 1979 ‘Exhibition of Prints’, Art Heritage, New Delhi
    • 1978 ‘Exhibition of Terracotta Relief’s and Paintings’, Nandan Gallery, Santiniketan, West Bengal
    • 1978 ‘Exhibition of Terracotta Relief’s’, Art Heritage, New Delhi
    • 1972 ‘Exhibition of Terracotta Relief’s’, Kunika –Chemould, New Delhi
    • 1971 ‘Exhibition of Polytichs’, Kunika –Chemould, New Delhi
    • 1969 Gallery Chemould, Mumbai
    • 1969 Kunika –Chemould, New Delhi
    • 1967 Gallery Chemould, Mumbai
    • 1967 Gallery Navina, New York
    • 1966 Gallery Chemould, Mumbai
    • 1962-63 Kunika Art Centre, New Delhi
    • 1961 Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
    • 1959 Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
    • 1958 Delhi Silpi Chakra, New Delhi
    • 1956 Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
    • 1955 Delhi Silpi Chakra, Freemason’s Hall, New Delhi

    Selected Group Exhibitions

    • 2013 'Ideas of the Sublime', presented by Vadehra Art Gallery at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
    • 2013 'Edge of Reason- and beyond, into pure creativity', presented by Indian Art Circle at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
    • 2013 'Still Life', Gallery Art Motif, New Delhi
    • 2012 'Diva', Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai
    • 2012 'Contemporary: A Selection of Modern and Contemporary Art', prsented by Sakshi Gallery at The Park, Chennai
    • 2011 'Adbhutam: Rasa in Indian Art', Centre of International Modern Art(CIMA), Kolkata
    • 2011 'The Art of Drawing', The Guild Art Gallery, Mumbai
    • 2011 'Pause: A Collection', Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai
    • 2011 'High-Light', presented by Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai at The Oberoi, Gurgaon
    • 2011 'Of Humour, Wit & Satire', Gallery Threshold, New Delhi
    • 2010-11 'A Collection', Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai
    • 2010 'The Living Insignia', Gallery Ensign, New Delhi
    • 2010 'Modern Folk: The Folk Art Roots of the Modernist Avant-Garde', Aicon Gallery, New York
    • 2009 'Think Small', Art Alive Gallery, New Delhi
    • 2009 'Kalpana: Figurative Art in India', presented by The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) at Aicon Gallery, London; The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR)
    • 2009 'Tracing Time', Bodhi Art, Mumbai
    • 2008 'Baroda: A Tale of Two Cities', (Part I), Sarjan Art Gallery, Vadodara, Gujarat
    • 2008 'X at the rate of Jehangir', presented by Art Musings at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
    • 2008 ‘Freedom 2008 : Sixty Years After Indian Independence’, Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
    • 2007 'Edge of Desire: Recent Art in India', National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Mumbai
    • 2006 ‘Shadow Lines’, Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi
    • 2006 'Drawing Show an Act of Art II', Priyasri Art Gallery, Mumbai
    • 2005 ‘Three Solo Exhibitions - K.G. Subramanyan, Manjit Bawa, Dhruva Mistry, organized by Sakshi Gallery at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
    • 2005 ‘Remembering Bhupen’, Gallery Chemould, Mumbai
    • 1996 Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
    • 1996 Art Heritage, New Delhi
    • 1994 Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
    • 1993 ‘Seven Contemporary Indian Painters’, Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi
    • 1992 'Journeys Within Landscapes', organized by Sakshi Gallery at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
    • 1986 Grey Art Gallery, New York

    Participations

    • 2014 'Ode to Monumental: Celebration, Visuality, Ideology', presented by Saffronart at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi and Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
    • 2013-14 'Transition', 20th Anniversary Show, Centre of International Modern Art(CIMA), Kolkata
    • 2011 'Ethos V: Indian Art Through the Lens of History (1900 to 1980), Indigo Blue Art, Singapore
    • 2011 'Roots in the Air, Branches Below: Modern & Contemporary Art from India', San Jose Museum of Art, San Jose
    • 2011 'Time Unfolded', Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), New Delhi
    • 2010 'Master’s Corner', organized by Indian Contemporary Art Journal at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai; India International Art Fair, New Delhi
    • 2010 'Contemporary Printmaking In India', presented by Priyasri Art Gallery, Mumbai at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai; Priyasri Art Gallery, Mumbai
    • 2010 'National Printmaking Portfolio', Marvel Art Gallery, Ahmedabad
    • 2010 'Roots', 25th Anniversary Exhibition of Sakshi Art Gallery, Mumbai at The Park, Chennai
    • 2008-09 ''Modern India', organized by Institut Valencià d'Art Modern (IVAM) and Casa Asia, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture at Valencia, Spain
    • 2008 'Moderns', Royal Cultural Centre, Amman, Jordan organized by Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi in collaboration with Embassy of India, Amman, Jordan
    • 2008 'Harvest 2008', organized by Arushi Arts at The Stainless Gallery, New Delhi
    • 2007-08 'From Everyday To The Imagined: Modern Indian Art', Singapore Art Museum, Singapore and at Museum of Art, Seoul National University, Seoul
    • 2006-07 ‘Edge of Desire: Recent Art in India’, National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi and Mumbai
    • 2006 ‘Cubism in Asia : Unbounded Dialogues’, The Singapore Art Museum, Singapore
    • 2005 ‘Cubism in Asia : Unbounded Dialogues’, The National Museum of Contemporary Art, Korea
    • 2005 ‘Cubism in Asia : Unbounded Dialogues’, The National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo
    • 2005 ‘Edge of Desire: Recent Art in India’, Queen’s Museum of Art, New York
    • 2004 ‘Edge of Desire: Recent Art in India’, Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth
    • 2002 Art South Asia, Manchester
    • 1998 ‘Tryst With Destiny: Art from Modern India 1947-97’, Singapore
    • 1996 ‘Chamatkara: Myth and Magic in Indian Art’, Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata and London
    • 1996 ‘Contemporary Indian Paintings’, Sotheby’s, New York
    • 1995 ‘Seven Contemporary Indian Painters’, Gallery le Monde de l’Art, Paris, France
    • 1988 ‘Festival of India’, Tokyo, Japan
    • 1987 ‘Festival of India’, Moscow, USSR
    • 1987 Coup de Coeur, Geneva
    • 1987 Kala Yatra, Bangalore, Karnataka
    • 1986 ‘Indian Aert from the Chester and Davida Herwitz Family Collection’, Hood Museum, Hanover, Massachusetts
    • 1984 Kala Yatra, Bangalore, Karnataka
    • 1983 ‘Six Indian Artists’, Tate Gallery and Royal Academy of Arts, London
    • 1982 ‘India : Myth and Reality’, Museum of Modern Art, Oxford, UK
    • 1982 ‘Six Indian Artists’, Tate Gallery, London
    • 1982 ‘Contemporary Indian Art’, Royal Academy of Arts, London
    • 1980 ‘Asian Artist’s Exhibition, Part II’, Japan
    • 1980 ‘Indian Art’, Washington DC, USA
    • 1980 ‘Indian Art Exhibition’, Tokyo
    • 1979 Sao Paulo Biennale, Brazil
    • 1979 ‘Asian Artist’s Exhibition, Part I’, Japan
    • 1976 Mention Biennale, France
    • 1975 3rd International Triennale, New Delhi
    • 1971 ‘Indian Art’, Tehran, Iran
    • 1968 1st International Triennale, New Delhi
    • 1966 ‘Indian Art Exhibition’, Ghent, Belgium
    • 1965 ‘Art Now in India’, Lanig Art Gallery, Newcastle
    • 1965 Commonwealth Arts Festival, London
    • 1965 ‘Ten Indian Artists’, South East Asia
    • 1964 ‘Ten Indian Artists’, USA
    • 1964 Exhibition of Textile Paintings, Mural, Woven Hangings, New York World Trade Fair, New York
    • 1964 Tokyo Biennale, Japan
    • 1961 Sao Paolo Biennale
    • 1956 ‘Three Young Artists from Abroad’, Hitchin, UK
    • 1953 ‘Indian Art Exhibition’, USA

    Honours and Awards

    • 2012 Padma Vibhushan by the Government of India
    • 2006 Padma Bhushan, Government of India
    • 2005 Lifetime Achievement Award, Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata
    • 2004 Lalit Kala Ratna Puraskar, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi on the occasion of its Golden Jubilee
    • 2001 Gana Krishti Puraskar, Kerala
    • 2001 Manaviyam Ravi Varma Award, Government of Kerala
    • 2000 Jadunath Sarkar Gold Medal, Asiatic Society, Kolkata
    • 2000 Abanindra Puraskar, Kolkata
    • 1999 Kala Ratna, All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS), New Delhi
    • 1997 D. Litt (Honoris Causa), Benaras Hindu University, Varanasi
    • 1994 Shiromani Puraskar, Kolkata
    • 1993 Conferred Fellowship, Kerala Lalit Kala Academy, Kerala
    • 1992 D. Litt (Honoris Causa), Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata
    • 1991 Gagan – Aban - Puraskar, Visvabharati, Santiniketan
    • 1985 Fellow, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
    • 1980 Kalidas Sanman
    • 1977-78 Visiting Fellow, Kala Bhavan, Visvabharati, Santiniketan
    • 1975 Padma Shri, Government of India
    • 1968 Gold Medal, First International Triennale, New Delhi
    • 1966 Fellowship, J. D. Rockefeller III Fund, USA
    • 1965 National Award for ‘Studio’, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
    • 1961 Maharashtra State Award
    • 1961 Medallion of Honorable Mention, Sao Paulo Biennale, Brazil
    • 1959 Bombay Art Society, Mumbai
    • 1957 Governor’s Prize, Bombay Art Society, Mumbai
    • 1955-56 British Council Research Scholarship to Slade School of Art, UK

    Subramanyan lives and works in Baroda.