artist profile
Jitish Kallat
born
1974
lives and works
Mumbai, India
education
BFA, Sir J.J. School of Art, Mumbai, India 1996
about the artist
Out of the urban dystopia that is his native India, Jitish Kallat extracts news reports, sociological phenomena, historical events, and efforts of modernization, as well as feats of survival to make pensive yet brutal, painful yet honest statements through his variegated body of work, which includes photographs, paintings, installations, and videos. The artist’s dogged commitment to a certain level of figurative realism in his art allows for the realistic depiction of the underbelly of society. Lining his narratives that collectively paint a picture of a nation plagued with an array of socioeconomic problems is a robust sense of hope for its future and admiration for its populace. Recipient of many honors, such as a fellowship at the Sir J. J. School of Art, the Provogue Society Young Achiever’s Award, the Sanskriti Award, and others, Kallat has achieved unparalleled success early on in his career. He also writes for art journals and is a trustee of the India Foundation for the Arts. In addition to a prolific exhibition history in various galleries and museums in India, he boasts an impressive record of shows held in prestigious art venues all over the world. Among these are the Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago, USA; the Mori Art Museum in Tokyo, Japan; the Royal Academy of Arts in London, UK; and the Haus der Kulturen der Welt in Berlin, Germany.