Atul Dodiya

One of the most acclaimed and internationally renowned Indian contemporary artists, Atul Dodiya’s creative method constantly questions and enquires into socio-political concerns. Born 1959, Atul Dodiya graduated from Sir JJ School of Art, after which he studied at Ecole des Beaux, Paris. Atul’s influences do not limit to cultural concerns but invoke many crises that interrogate and provoke regional, political and historical phenomena. From paintings to sculptures to mixed-media installations, his expressions are not confined within conventions rather defy them persistently. Along the same lines, he explores material in order to converge the context beyond existing angles.

Atul received fame quite early, post his graduation, carving a dynamic art career graph. Growing up in a middle-class Gujarati home in one of the locales of Mumbai, the representation, form and content in his expressions interweave many anecdotes and concepts that have been instigated by social conduct underpinning political hegemony. Primarily using figuration, he has been inspired by Bhupen Khakkar, Sudhir Patwardhan and Gieve Patel, among other modern masters. Atul’s myriad experiences, interest in Gujarat and French literature, worldwide cinema, and European, as well as American masters, has been pivotal in cultivating his maximalist vocabulary.

Atul has exhibited in many well known international spaces and events like Tate Modern, Yokohama Triennale, Gwangju Biennale, Singapore Tyler Print Institute, Singapore, and the list goes on. His artworks are part of several renowned institutional as well as individual collections, which comprise Herwitz Collection, Peabody Essex Museum, Salem Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, Japan Philadelphia Museum of Art, Tate Modern, London Centre Pompidou, Paris Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, Devi Art Foundation, among many others. Well covered by media and publicity, reputed authors have published books on him, interpreting his practice and situating him in postcolonial discourse.

 Atul Dodiya lives and works in Mumbai, India.