Yashwant Shirwadkar is a master in impressionistic landscape painting. Initially making pencil drawings and watercolour sketches on location he then works in the oil medium with palette knife to create his landscape paintings. His impressionistic style is somewhat dictated by his choice of implement, the palette knife, the fleeting strokes help define the beautiful scenery of the chosen region. Whether he is portraying the city of Mumbai, or the ghats of Banaras, Shirwadkar’s love of architecture is unmistakable and has largely influenced his work.
Most frequent amongst Shirwadkar's works are scenes from the city of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, India. Most Hindus consider Varanasi a holy city, as the River Ganges flows through it. In Shirwadkar's paintings we see this city in all of its glory. He paints people taking dips in the river or praying and meditating on its banks, the multitude of small temples almost falling of the cliff face and the narrow street teeming with life and activity.
Shirwadkar manages to blend his colours so well in all his paintings, that we actually see the radiance from a setting or rising sun lighting up the city and transforming it into a shimmering and almost breathing, beautiful creature. In his canvas, 'Symphony on the Steps,' we see how the artist has deftly used a palette knife (no brushwork at all) and oils to recreate the typical scene one witnesses on a Banaras Ghat, or the steps that lead down to the river.
Yashwant Shirwadkar is extensively travelled and has held solo exhibitions of his work in Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Delhi, Varanasi, Cochin, France, Germany, London, Luxembourg, Belgium, Nepal, Switzerland and the United States of America. At the same time he has participated in group shows too both in India and abroad. His works are also regularly included in domestic and international auctions of Indian Art, breaking records at auction houses like Sotheby's and Christie's.
Born
1951
Solo Shows
88 Shows in India & Abroad
2013, 11 - Nehru Centre Art Gallery, Mumbai
2012, 08, 04, 01, 1998, 95, 93, 89, 87-85, 82, 80-77 - Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai.
2012, 02, 1999 - Juneja Art Gallery, Jaipur (Sponsored Show)
2012 - Le Meridien, Jaipur, (Sponsored Show)
2012 - Darpan Art Gallery, (Sponsored Show)
2011 - Gallery Artchill, Jaipur, (Sponsored Show)
2011, 05 - Marvel Art Gallery, Ahmedabad (Sponsored Show)
2010, 07 - Museum Gallery, Mumbai, (Sponsored Show)
2010 - HK Fine Art Gallery, Hongkong, (Sponsored Show)
2008, 05, 02, 00 - Vinyasa Art Gallery, Chennai (Sponsored Show)
2007 - Artland Gallery, Mumbai, (Sponsored Show)
2007 - Chitrakoot Art Gallery, Kolkata, (Sponsored Show)
2007 - Beyond Art Gallery, Mumbai, (Sponsored Show)
2006 - Lalit Kala Akademi,New Delhi, (Sponsored Show)
2006, 02, 1999-95, - Renaissance Gallerie, Bangalore (Sponsored Show)
2006, 02 - The Leela Palace Hotel, Bangalore (Sponsored Show)
2006, 02, 00 - Art Pilgrim, New Delhi (Sponsored Show)
2004, 03 - India Art Gallery, Pune (Sponsored Show).
2004 - Sarjan Art Gallery, Vadodara (Sponsored Show)
2010, 04, 1993 - Cache The Art And Crafts Gallery, Mumbai (Sponsored Show)
2003 - Dhoomimal Art Centre, New Delhi (Sponsored Show)
2003 - Minu Dey Art Gallery, Mumbai (Sponsored Show)
2001 - Archer Art Gallery, Ahmedabad (Sponsored Show)
2000 - Gallery Art Resource Trust, Mumbai (Sponsored Show)
2000, 1999, 96, 94, 91, 90, 88, 87, 85, 83, 81, 79 - Taj Art Gallery, Mumbai
1999 - Art Indus, New Delhi (Sponsored Show)
1996, 93, 90 - Gallery Aurbindo, New Delhi (Sponsored Show)
1995 - Galleria, Mumbai (Sponsored Show)
1994-91 - The Heritage Art Gallery, Chennai (Sponsored Show)
1994 - The Center Art Gallery, Kolkota (Sponsored Show)
1993 - ABC Academy Art Gallery, Benaras (Sponsored Show)
1993 - Anjali Art Gallery, Bangalore (Sponsored Show)
1992 - Ilplazo, Mumbai (Sponsored Show)
1988 - Bajaj Art Gallery, Mumbai (Sponsored Show)
1986 - Puvis Art Gallery, France (Sponsored Show)
1983 - Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi
1981 - Ramneel Art Gallery, Bangalore (Sponsored Show)
Group Shows
Two Man Shows - 20 Shows in India & Abroad
Group Shows - 183 Shows in India & Abroad
2013 "Colors of Indian Art" by Morpichh Art & Suchitrra Arts, Houston, USA.
Other Participation
Regular participation in most of the Major Art Exhibition and Art activities through India & Abroad.
2012 - A Charity Auction organized by CRY in London
2009 - Time And Space Gallery Charity Auction, Millionaire Homes in Bangalore
2009 - Maharashtra Government Culture Programme (Saptarang) Mumbai
2008 - Bhoruka Charitable Trust (Jaipur) organized Auction in New Delhi
2007 - Vinnyasa Premier Art Gallery Charity Art Auction
2006 - Tao Art Gallery Charity Auction in Mumbai
2006, 05, 02, 01 - Concern Annual Charity Auction in Mumbai
2004 - A Charity Auction organized by Grant a Smile Foundation of India & India Art Gallery in Pune.
2002, 01 - Participation in Christie’s Auction in Mumbai
2002 - Jehangir Art Gallery-Golden Jubilee Year Exhibition in Mumbai
2001 - A Charity Auction organized by Studio S & Gallery Art Resource Trust in Pune
1998 - Participation in Sotheby’s Auction in Mumbai
1986 - Exhibited in Kala Mela, New Delhi
1981, 78 - The Monsoon Show Sponsored by Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai
Collections
Many Private Collections India & Abroad.