Atul Dodiya Indian, b. 1959

Born in 1959 in Mumbai, Atul Dodiya trained at the Sir J.J. School of Art, 1982, and École des Beaux-Arts, Paris, 1991–92, and is widely considered one of India’s most significant artists. Dodiya became known in the nineties for his hyperrealist paintings depicting middle-class Indian life and for his watercolour and oil series on Mahatma Gandhi. His narratives are populated by diverse traditions in painting, the written word, images from the media, saints and legends, national history, political events, traumata and autobiographical narratives. His allegorical paintings on canvas or metal roller shutters and watercolours are considered either aggressive or poetic.

 

Dodiya has had more than 32 solo shows worldwide, including at Vadehra Art Gallery (2020, 2017, 2010, 2007); Galerie Templon, Brussels (2015, 2012); Nature Morte, Berlin (2010); Bose Pacia, New York (2005, 2003) among others, as well as  mid-career retrospectives at the  Contemporary Arts Centre, Cincinnati (2013); Reina Sofia Museum, Madrid (2002); and the Japan Foundation Asia Centre, Tokyo (2001). Major survey shows of his work have been held at the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi (2013) and Bhau Daji Lad Museum, Mumbai (2014).

 

He has participated in the India Pavilion, 58th Venice Biennale (2019); 1st Kochi–Muziris Biennale (2012); 7th Asia Pacific Triennale, Brisbane (2012); Biennale Jogja XI (2011); 3rd  Moscow Biennale (2009); 7th Gwangju Biennale (2008); Documenta12 (2007); 51st Venice Biennal (2005); and the 1st Yokohoma Triennal (2001).

 

His work is included in several prominent collections, including the Ishara Art Foundation and the Prabhakar Collection, Dubai; the Guggenheim Museum; the Herwitz Collection, Peabody Essex Museum, Salem; Fukuoka Asian Art Museum, Japan; Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia; Tate Modern, London; Centre Pompidou, Paris; Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, New Delhi; Queensland Art Gallery/Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane, Australia; Devi Art Foundation, Gurgaon; Detroit Institute of Arts, USA; Kunsthaus, Zurich; Museum of Old and New Art (MONA), Tasmania, Australia; Burger Collection, Berlin and Hong Kong; National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi, Mumbai; National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne, Australia; and Museum M+, Hong Kong, among others.

 

A major monograph on Atul Dodiya, published by Prestel Verlag and Vadehra Art Gallery, released in January 2014.

 

The artist lives and works in Mumbai, India.