With a Diploma in Fine Arts & Modelling from Karnataka Chithra Kala Parishad, Dr. M. S. Murthy was conferred an honorary Doctorate from the Kannada University, Hampi. He won the International Biennial Award from the Iran Academy of Arts in 2003 and Karnataka Sahithya Academy Award in 2006, while the Government of Karnataka bestowed him with the Rajyotsava Award in 2010, and with Lifetime achievement Award, in 2017. Featured here is a series of paintings on Mahatma Gandhi – a brilliant depiction of the life and times of the Father of the Nation.

Growing up in Gujarat, and particularly in Baroda, has contributed greatly to my personal creative journey. Elders with connections in the fields of literature and arts of course helped trigger my creative quest; but I would still give more credit to the city we were in – the cultural epicenter of the state of Gujarat. My first visit to the Fine Arts faculty of M. S. University was a life-changer. I remember being enamored by the students painting in the studios. I loved the space and light in the art gallery and the artists’ work on display. The wall art and massive wooden sculptures strewn around the campus fascinated my young mind. I met many stalwart artists (Pingale, Dhumal, Khakhar) through my father and grandfather; but back then I was too young to grasp their stature in the world of art.

Anish Kapoor, is a British-Indian sculptor, famously known for his expertise in installation art and conceptual art. His penchant for rich colours and polished surfaces is reflected through his use of saturated pigments and striking architectural forms. Kapoor is immensely recognized for his biomorphic sculptures and installations; a series consisting of arrangements of abstract geometric forms that spilled beyond the object itself.