Vases, 2017

Sudarshan Shetty  

Sudarshan Shetty (1961, Mumbai) is a renowned contemporary Indian artist known for his diverse artistic practice encompassing painting, sculpture, video, sound, and performance. Initially trained as a painter at the Sir JJ School of Art in Mumbai, Shetty turned to sculpture and installation, developing a conceptual approach in his work. His creations often explore themes of transience, the sacred, and the everyday, employing a variety of media to blur the boundaries between objects, memories, and dreams. His works are recognized for their poetic and enigmatic qualities, inviting viewers to reflect on the interplay between materiality and imagination.

Shetty's art has been widely exhibited in leading international institutions, such as Tate Modern in London, the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum in Japan, and the Mattress Factory in Pittsburgh. In 1999, he garnered attention with the public sculpture Home and Away, commissioned as part of the Hakata Revererain Art Project in Japan. His works are included in important collections, such as the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art in India and the Fukuoka Asian Art Museum.

Shetty lives and works in Mumbai, and continues to be an important figure in contemporary art, engaging deeply with the rich cultural and spiritual traditions of South Asia, while fostering a dialogue between the local and the global in her practice.