Paresh Maity

“Water-colours are my heart & soul” says Paresh Maity who over a period of the last 20 years has achieved proficiency in the medium a few can claim. Paresh Maity , on whatever surface he may choose, be it paper, canvas or any other medium, creates magic. The colours are vibrant, and echo the passion of the artist.

The sand dunes of Rajasthan, the backwaters of Kerala, the canals of Venice, to the lake of Geneva, Paresh’s paints have captured it all. In fact Paresh says that it was his stay in Rajasthan that made his works explode with colour, and there has been no looking back since.

Paresh has also briefly experimented with abstracts, which was more of freeing the limitations of a landscape. One would still see an odd ship or a tree though not in a representative manner. Even when he did go back to painting figures the contextual setting was more often neglected. The focus was on the figure, specifically the faces, with their myriad expressions, closely cropped and juxtaposed with their surrondings. The colours are vibrant and dazzle the viewer. The stylized, simplified figures have a story of their own, transporting one to an exotic land.

Virtuosity of medium is not the message the spirit behind the man and his talent are. It has taken a long time for Paresh Maity to reach where he is, “the execution of the work itself may take little time, but to get there it has taken me 20 years”.

Born
1965 –   Tamluk, West Bengal

Education

• Master of Fine Arts, College of Art, New Delhi
• Bachelor of Fine Arts, Government College of Art and Crafts, Kolkata
  Exhibitions
• 2013-14 ‘Symphony of Silence’,…

Selected Solo Exhibitions

• 2013-14 ‘Symphony of Silence’, Jehangir Art Gallery and Art Musings, Mumbai
• 2013 ‘Venetian Odyssey’, Art Alive Gallery, New Delhi
• 2012 ‘Passion’, presented by Gallery Sumukha, Bangalore at The Arts House, Singapore
• 2011 ‘Shesh Lekha: The Last Poems of Rabindranath Tagore’, National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi, Mumbai; Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai; Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
• 2010 ‘The World on Canvas’, presented by Art Alive gallery, New Delhi at Rabindra Bhavan, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
• 2009 ‘Montage Moments Memories’, Jehangir Art Gallery; Art Musings, Mumbai
• 2008-09 Gallery Sumukha, Bangalore; Visual Arts Gallery, Hong Kong
• 2008 ‘An Enchanting Journey – Paresh Maity’s Kerala’, Art Alive, New Delhi
• 2007 ‘Paresh Maity: Drawings, Paintings, Sculptures, Photographs’, Centre of International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
• 2006 Aicon Gallery, Palo Alto
• 2006 Visual Arts Gallery, Hong Kong in collaboration with Gallery Sumukha
• 2005 Arts India, New York
• 2005 Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai in collaboration with Art Musings, Mumbai
• 2005 Gallery in Cork Street, London in association with ICICI Bank
• 2004 Organized by Gallery Sumukha, Bangalore and Easel, Singapore at Alliance Francaise, Singapore
• 2004 Centre of International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
• 2003 ‘Shapes in Symphony’, Gallerie Ganesha, New Delhi
• 2002 Arts India, New York
• 2002 Venetian Odyssey, British Council, New Delhi
• 2002 Tagore Centre, Berlin
• 2001 Venetian Odyssey, Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
• 2001 Philip Gallery, London
• 2000 Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
• 2000 Gallerie Aspekte, Germany
• 2000 Venetian Odyssey, Hotel Aryanbika, Debrecen, Hungary
• 2000 Gallerie Mohanjeet, Paris
• 1999 ‘Two Decades of Classic Watercolours’, Shridharani, Triveni Kala, Sangam; Gallerie Ganesha, and British Council, New Delhi
• 1998 Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
• 1998 Cymroza Art Gallery, Mumbai
• 1998 Gallerie Mohanjeet, Paris
• 1998 Gallery Sumukha, Bangalore
• 1997 Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
• 1996 Shridharani Gallery, Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi
• 1996 Hungarian Information and Cultural Centre, New Delhi
• 1996 Gallerie Ganesha, New Delhi
• 1996 Paracelsus Rotenfleskdinik Ausgestelt in association with Galerie Aspekie, Germany
• 1996 ARKS Gallery, London
• 1995 Cymroza Art Gallery, Mumbai
• 1994 British Council, Kolkata
• 1994 Gallerie Ganesha, New Delhi
• 1994 The Gallery, Chennai
• 1994 Galerie Aspekte, Germany
• 1994 Shridharani Gallery, Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi
• 1993 Gallerie Ganesha, New Delhi
• 1993 All India Fine Arts and Craft Society (AIFACS), New Delhi
• 1992 Gallerie Ganesha, New Delhi
• 1992 Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Kolkata
• 1992 Cymroza Art Gallery, Mumbai
• 1992 Siddartha Art Gallery, Kathmandu
• 1992 Windsor Manor, Bangalore
• 1991 Gallerie Ganesha, New Delhi
• 1991 Gallery Katayun, Kolkata
• 1991 Sophia Duchesne Art Gallery, Mumbai
• 1990 Gallerie Ganesha, New Delhi
• 1990 Gallery Katayun, Kolkata
• 1989 Gallery Katayun, Kolkata
• 1988 Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata
  Selected Group Exhibitions
• 2012 ‘Talking Heads’, Art Alive Gallery, New Delhi
• 2011 ‘States of Departure: Progressives to Present Day’, Aicon Gallery, London
• 2011 Gallery Sumukha, Chennai
• 2011 ‘Aureus 2011’, Gallerie Nvya, New Delhi
• 2010 ‘Symbols and Metaphors’, Centre of International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
• 2009 ‘Mark of Masters -2’, Art and soul, Mumbai
• 2009 ‘Think Small’, Art Alive Gallery, New Delhi
• 2009 ‘Beyond the Form’, Bajaj Capital Art House; Visual Art Gallery, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi and Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
• 2008 ‘Review’, Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
• 2007 ‘Young Guns’, Institute of Contemporary Indian Art (ICIA), Mumbai
• 2007 Art Alive, London
• 2007 ‘Art and Fashion Show’, Gallery Sumukha
• 2007 Royal Watercolor Society, London
• 2007 ‘Ueno’, Royal Museum, Tokyo
• 2007 ‘Darpan’, Gallerie Nvya, New Delhi
• 2007 ‘Indian Summer’, Art Alive, London
• 2007 ‘Vistar’, Limited Edition, New Delhi
• 2007 House of Lords, London in collaboration with Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai
• 2006 Kumar Gallery, New Delhi
• 2006 Style File Show, Mumbai
• 2006 ‘Two to Tango’, Gallerie Nvya, New Delhi
• 2006 V & A, London
• 2006 Tate Britain, UK
• 2005 Joint Exhibition with Gallery Nvya, New Delhi
• 2005 Art Alive Gallery, New Delhi
• 2005 Palette Art Gallery, New Delhi
• 2005 Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai
• 2005 Kumar Art Gallery, Mumbai
• 2005 Arushi Art, New Delhi
• 2005 Royal Watercolor Society, London
• 2005 Sanskriti Art Gallery, Kolkata
• 2005 Gallery Sumukha, Bangalore
• 2004 ‘Family Group Show’, Visual Art, London
• 2003 Uttarayan, group show of Egypt
• 2002 Rossy and Rossy Gallery, London in association with Gallery’88, Kolkata
• 2002 International water color exhibition, Royal Watercolour Society, London
• 2001 Rossy and Rossy Gallery, London, in association of Modi Foundation
• 2001 Erotica, Gallerie Mohanjeet, Paris
• 2000 Participated in Indian exhibition in Dubai
• 1997 ‘Images of Kolkata’, Exhibition along with Ragu Rai and Desmond Doig, Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata
• 1996 Tribute to Mother Teresa, Mumbai
• 1996 Sakhi Mandal, Bangalore
• 1996 Gallerie 88, Kolkata
• 1996 Rotary Club, Kolkata
• 1996 Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
• 1996 ‘Views and Visions’, Gallerie Ganesha, New Delhi
• 1996 ‘Wounds’, Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
• 1996 National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), New Delhi
• 1996 ‘Trends and Images’, Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
• 1996 World Miniature Exhibition, Toronto, Canada
• 1995 ‘Tree in My Life’, Village Gallery, New Delhi
• 1995 ‘Urusvathi’, New Delhi
• 1995 Hyatt Regency, New Delhi
• 1994 Gallery Katayun, Kolkata
• 1994 Gallerie 88, Kolkata
• 1994 Indian Contemporary Art Exhibition, Tokyo
• 1994 ‘People for Animals’, Taj Hotel, New Delhi
• 1993 ‘Malhar’, Maurya Sheraton, New Delhi
• 1993 Gallery Katayun, Kolkata
  Joint Exhibitions
• 2012 ‘Eternal Landscapes’, with Ram Kumar presented by ICIA at The Arts Trust, Mumbai
  Participations
• 2012 ‘Synergy 2012’, 12th Anniversary Show, Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai
• 2011 ‘Celebrations 2011’, Kumar Gallery, New Delhi
• 2010 ‘Art Celebrates 2010: Sports and the City’, represented by Art Alive Gallery at Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi to coincide with the hosting of the Commonwealth Games
• 2010 ‘Summer Show 2010’, Centre of International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata
• 2010 ‘Evolve: 10th Anniversary Show’, Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai’, Nehru Centre, Mumbai
• 2010 Annual Exhibition, Chawla Art Gallery, New Delhi
• 2010 ‘Celebration 2010’, Annual Exhibition, Kumar Art Gallery, New Delhi
• 2007,06,05 ‘Harmony Show’, Nehru Centre, Mumbai
• 2006 17th Anniversary Show, Gallerie Ganesha
• 2005 Triennale, India
• 2005 Lalit Kala’s Golden Jubille Celebration Show, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
• 1997 Aquarelle Internationale Thun, Switzerland
• 1996 Silver Jubilee Exhibition. Cymroza Art Gallery, Mumbai
• 1995 Cleveland International Drawing Biennale, Cleveland
• 1991 Annual Exhibition, Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Kolkata
• 1990 Annual Exhibition, Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata
• 1990 Annual Exhibition, Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Kolkata
• 1989 Annual Exhibition, Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata
• 1989 Annual Exhibition, All India Fine Arts & Crafts Society (AIFACS), New Delhi

Honours and Awards

• 2002 Royal Watercolor Society, London
• 1999 Harmony Award; Mumbai
• 1993 British Council Visitor ship
• 1992 Pt. Ravi Shankar Award from College of Art, New Delhi
• 1990 All India Fine Arts and Craft Society Award for 62nd All India Art Exhibition, New Delhi
• 1990 Award for Outstanding Painting by Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Kolkata
• 1990 All India Fine Arts and Craft Society (AIFACS) Award for Best Water Color Painting, New Delhi
• 1989 National Scholarship Award from Government of India
• 1988 Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Celebration Award
• 1988 Governor’s Gold Medal from Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata
• 1987 Jamini Roy Birth Centenary Celebration Award
• 1986 Award from Indian Society of Oriental Art, Kolkata
• 1985 Award from Government of West Bengal for Best Water Color Painting
• 1983 Award from Indian Society of Oriental Art, Kolkata
• 1983 Gold Medal from U.S.S.R