Manhar Kapadia

Born in 1965, Manhar Kapadia has completed his Diploma in Painting in 1987 and Art Teacher Diploma in 1988 from Sheth C. N. College of Fine Arts, Ahmedabad.

A committed artist and a faculty of Art, he is known for his extensive work on Mahatma Gandhi. His paintings have been inspired by key events in the illustrious life of Mahatma Gandhi and he has chosen to present these not purely as realistic renderings, rather he manages to convey the spirit of Mahatma, the thought and his philosophy through his paintings. Mahatma Gandhi was not merely an important figure in the Indian freedom struggle, he was a social reformer to the core apart from being a moral guide to the Indian masses. It is this towering personality of the twentieth century, who not only guided and shaped the Indian freedom struggle in the later years but also acted as an icon and inspiration to freedom struggles across the world.

Manhar Kapadia has taken up the challenge to paint the Mahatma, not only as his personality, but also his philosophy and thought, which has left such a strong footprint on the collective consciousness of India.

He was awarded by the Gujarat Lalit Kala Academy, Ahmedabad in 2001 & 2011. In 2013, he won the award from the AIFACS. He has given demonstrations in Portrait and Creative Painting at Eklavya School, Ahmedabad, Sanskar Kendra, Ahmedabad. He has participated in Art camps, Junagadh organized by Gujarat Lalit Kala Academy in 2010, All India Contemporary Artist Camp by Ifcowala Fine Arts at Vallabh Vidhyanagar in 2012, All India Contemporary Artist Camp by West Zone Culture Udaipur at Goa in 2012. He has participated in many group shows since 1984: In Ahmedabad, Baroda, Banglore, New Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Indore.  He has held several solo show across India including, in 2009, Kanchan Art Gallery, Jaipur, In 2007, ‘Gandhiji’ at Gandhi Ashram, Ahmedabad. He is currently working and residing in Ahmedabad, Gujarat.

His exhibit with us is titled Mahatma, a mixed media on canvas.