ABOUT AJAY DESHPANDE

Abstract Series – Between Real and Imagined

Ajay Deshpande, born in 1969 in Maharashtra, India, is an accomplished painter whose work captures the quiet poetry of everyday life. Born and raised in Maharashtra, Ajay’s early years in a small village shaped his deep connection to the people, animals, and objects that later became central to his art. Ajay began exhibiting while still a student, showing his paintings at venues such as the State Art Exhibition (1989) and Abhinav Kala Mahavidyalaya annual shows (1989–1992). By 1992 he was participating in group shows across India, including the NCPA in Mumbai and exhibitions in Pune, Nasik, and Gadag.

Education :

• 1992 – Completed his Art Teaching Diploma in Drawing & Painting from Abhinav Kala Mahavidyalaya, Pune, graduating with First Class and Distinction and ranking second in Maharashtra.
• 1997 – Earned a Diploma in Art Education from the same institution.

Throughout the 1990s, Ajay’s paintings featured in a wide range of group and solo exhibitions:

• 1990–1996: Participated in exhibitions with the Bombay Art Society, Mahakoshal Kala Parishad, Hyderabad Art Society, and several regional art academies.
• 1995–1998: Solo shows at “Affordable Art,” Mumbai; “Kala Mela,” Bangalore; and Pune venues such as “Cafe Sunrise” and “Different Strokes.”
• 2001–2003: Exhibited at Malaka Spice, Pune, and in Bangalore, alongside participation in camps and workshops across India, including All India Artist Camp, Pune (1997) and INTACH, Lucknow (1992).

Ajay received the prestigious Lalit Kala Akademi Scholarship in 2002–2003 and was awarded the Gold Medal by the Hyderabad Art Society in 1997.

From the early 2000s, Ajay’s work reached wider audiences:

• Major shows at Jehangir Art Gallery, Nehru Centre, and Museum Art Gallery in Mumbai.
• Exhibitions in Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Goa, and internationally in Singapore (2008) and the United States (2015–2016).
• His portraits were recently displayed and sold at the Royal Society of Portrait Painters, England.

Artistic Style :

Ajay is often described as a visual storyteller. He finds inspiration in the unnoticed details of daily life—village musicians, stray animals, birds, and the quiet bustle of Indian streets. Beginning with realistic forms and moving into subtle abstraction, his paintings blend memory, mood, and imagination. Series such as “Tuning with the Past,” the “Goat Series,” the “Guard Lamp,” and the “Creative Still Life” reveal his mastery of texture, movement, and atmosphere. His smaller 6 x 6 inch works show a playful spontaneity, while his portraits remain his strongest expression.

Passionate about sharing his knowledge, Ajay conducts demonstrations and workshops at art schools and galleries in Pune and across India. Notable sessions include Fergusson College, Sai Chitrakala Mahavidyalaya, and Balgandharva Kala Dalan.

Today, Ajay continues to explore new mediums and themes while remaining true to his roots. His paintings—rich in color, layered in meaning, and touched by an inner luminosity—adorn private collections around the world and are accessible through select galleries and online platforms.

Ajay Deshpande’s art is both a personal journey and an invitation: a quiet dialogue between the viewer and the unseen lives that shape the rhythm of India.