Vijay Shinde
Vijay Shinde was born in Sholapur, Maharashtra in 1958. His interest in painting began during his childhood. However, it was only when he went to Pune to attend Abhinav College of Art that his formal art education truly started. He later moved to Mumbai, completing his Fine Arts degree at Sir J. J. School of Art in 1982. During this time, he engaged with notable Indian contemporary artists such as Husain, Gaitonde, Raza, Padamsee, and Barve, among others.
In 1984, Shinde held his first solo exhibition at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai. He
has since presented over 22 solo exhibitions and participated in numerous prestigious group shows.
Initially, Shinde focused on portraiture and figurative art, but gradually his work evolved into non-representational forms. The mystical elements, subtle expressions, and intriguing spatial relationships on canvas inspired his shift to abstract art, for which he is renowned. He prefers engaging with the canvas without any preconceived ideas. His quest for eternal truth has consistently driven his work, as he
seeks to uncover the ultimate, divine force that influences us, which is unseen yet ever-present in our lives. The interplay of forces—both repelling and attracting—between heaven and earth, cosmic energies, and spirituality form the essence of his creations.
The artist states: "Without awakening and the desire to change unpleasant things, hopelessness would prevail. Therefore, there must be a belief in the possibility of change. As an artist, I believe in goodness, humanity, and human values. When these values decline, I feel distressed. This pain is reflected in my work, but ultimately, I always believe there is hope."
