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About

Bombay Art Society

The Bombay Art Society, a Non-Profit Art Institution, was founded in 1888. It is one of the oldest art institutions in the Asian sub-continent. Considering the yeoman services in the field of art, the Bombay Art Society (BAS) was granted a piece of land by the State Government and the BAS Art Complex is built on the same land area of 10000 sq.ft. The Art Complex houses three Art Galleries, an Amphitheater, a Library and an Art Shop in Bandra Reclamation, Mumbai. It was inaugurated on 13th February, 2016 at the hands of The Honourable Prime Minister of India, Shri. Narendra Modi, in the presence of the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri. Devendra Fadnavis, President of the Nationalist Congress Party, Shri. Sharad Pawar and other dignitaries.

A little sneak-peak into our history::

History of Indian Art is as old as the Indian civilisation itself and every major period of history has given India newer modes of expression and forms of art. The influence of modern art was felt long before Independence in cities like Mumbai, Calcutta, Madras, where schools of art were established by the British.
The Bombay Art Society, originally founded to encourage the artistically inclined British in India, later began to include Indian participants in their exhibitions. The Annual Art Exhibitions of the society were important social events and were written about in local news papers. Eminent artists like Raja Ravi Varma, Ganapathi Mhatre, and MF Pithawala submitted their entries for the competitions and won prizes.
At the time of independence, a new beginning of artistic impulse was felt with the dawn of a new era. The impact of the Second World War, science, the changing social environment, economic scenario and political thinking had its influence in the Indian Art scene. Since then, the Contemporary Art scene of India has been rapidly evolving, among other catalysts, owing to economic growth, new media, technological advancements, and simultaneously seething social as well as cultural tensions.
Twenty two years after it was set up in 1888, the Bombay Art Society published its first journal. Titled as “A Brief Historical Sketch of the Bombay Art Society, with special reference to the period — 1906-1910”, this is perhaps the earliest available document that defined its purpose and functions. The text written by Prof. 0. V. Muller, Bombay Art Society’s then secretary, reads “The Bombay Art Society was founded in 1888 for the purpose of encouraging art, especially amongst amateurs and educating the native public to a true appreciation of its merits. By affording opportunities of exhibiting work done, submitting it to criticism, winning medals, prizes and certificates, and at time disposing of surplus productions, the Society endeavours not only to keep alive but to develop this artistic sense.”
The Bombay Art Society has played a seminal role as an organisation promoting art and artists in India since the last 131 years.
At the time of independence, a new beginning of artistic impulse was felt with the dawn of a new era. The impact of the Second World War, science, the changing social environment, economic scenario and political thinking had its influence in the Indian Art scene. Contemporary artists inspired a new line creating a synthesis between the east and the west. Since the last two decades, the Contemporary Art scene of India is rapidly evolving, among other catalysts, owing to economic growth, new media, technological advancements, and simultaneously seething social as well as cultural tensions. From domestic market the Indian Art is now traveling internationally to fetch often astronomical prices. At home, however, a gap between arts creation and appreciation still exists. Contemporary Art remains an elite closed door affair limiting its access to few.
In the midst of this widening gap, there is undoubtedly a sea-change taking place in the Indian contemporary art scene. Since its inception, The Bombay Art Society is engaged in bridging this gap at this intersection, traversing the global and the local by engaging the arts and its audience. The Bombay Art Society is a space for contemporary art devoted to examining the exchange of ideas focusing on mounting exhibitions and hosting stimulating observation engaged in collective and aesthetic discourses. The Bombay Art Society was one of the first art society’s that were established in India. If an art institution which is founded by art lovers, run by artists, and receives little help from the State can run for more than 127 years then the institution’s importance at the helm of the art scene in India and internationally cannot be overlooked.
Twenty two years after it was set up in 1888, the Bombay Art Society published its first journal. Titled as “A Brief Historical Sketch of the Bombay Art Society, with special reference to the period — 1906-1910”, this is perhaps the earliest available document that defined its purpose and functions. . The text written by Prof. 0. V. Muller, Bombay Art Society’s then secretary, reads “The Bombay Art Society was founded in 1888 for the purpose of encouraging art, especially amongst amateurs, and of educating the native public to a true appreciation of its merits. By affording opportunities of exhibiting work done, submitting it to criticism, winning medals, prizes and certificates, and at time disposing of surplus productions, the Society endeavors not only to keep alive but to develop this artistic sense. The various Arts Schools of the country are putting forth an ever increasing number of students, and these would be artists also find in the Society’s Exhibitions one of their chief supports.”

Management

rajendra

Rajendra Patil

President
Rajendra is an art-writer; he has written extensively on contemporary art
Ramdas-Phutane---Committee-Member

Ramdas Phutane

Vice-President
Ramdas Phutane is a satirical poet and screenwriter, filmmaker and director in Maharashtra.
manojjoshi

Shri Manoj Joshi

Vice-President
Manoj Joshi is an Indian film and television actor. A graduate from Sir J.J. School of Arts
Prof Sudhakar Chavan

Prof. Dr. Sudhakar Chavan

Vice-President
Prof. Dr. Sudhakar Chavan is known as Bhishmacharya, an expert in arts and a scholar.
Urmila Kanoria

Smt. Urmila Kanoria

Vice-President
Urmila Kanoria, born in 1942 grew up in Modinagar and started her married life in Kolkata.
narendravichare

Prof. Narendra Vichare

Chairman
Narendra Vichare is a senior Artist and an Art Educator
Minali Thakkar

Smt. Minali Thakkar

Vice-President
chandrajityadav

Chandrajit Yadav

Hon. Secretary
Chandrajit Yadav, in his towering career of multiple decades has embellished several art galleries
ajinkyachaulkar

Ajinkya Chaulkar

Hon. Jt. Secretary
Ajinkya Chaulkar is a renowned sculptor from Mumbai. An alumnus of Sir J J School of Art
surendrajagtap

Prof. Surendra Jagtap

Hon. Treasurer
Prof. Surendra Jagtap is a senior artist based in Mumbai. He is the current principal of J. K. Academy.
anilnaik

Prof. Anil Naik

Commitee Member
Anil Naik a name synonymic with artistic brilliance, a highly decorated and a voluminous career
vikrantmanjrekarr

Vikrant Manjrekar

Committee Member
Vikrant Manjrekar is a renowned sculptor from Mumbai. His works have been featured in exhibitions
madahavigangan

Smt. Madahavi Gangan

Committee Member
Madhavi Gangan is a senior professional artist.
shrikantkadam

Prof. Shrikant Kadam

Committee Member
Shrikant Kadam is a critically-acclaimed international artist.
ganpatbhadke

Ganpat Bhadke

Committee Member
Ganpat Bhadke is an artist and an art educator based in Maharashtra.
anilabhange (1)

Anil Abhange

Co-oped Committee Member
Anil Abhange is a lecturer at Chitrakala Mahavidyalaya, Nashik.
Vielas Salunkke

Anil Abhange

Co-oped Committee Member
Vilas Salunkke studied art at Sir. J J School of Arts

Rajendra Patil

Rajendra is an art-writer; he has written extensively on contemporary art and had contributed to Kalabhavan, Santiketan’s Nandan, Metroplolis, Every Tuesday, Art India, Creative Mind and Art & Deal, among other magazines and newspapers. he has edited the Bombay Art Society’s Art Journal since 2004 to 2009; He is also the editor and publisher of Indian Contemporary Art Journal, a quarterly art magazine published since 2009. Rajendra is the founder and managing director of India Art Festival, a modern and contemporary art fair. He has been on the managing committee of the Bombay Art Society for the last fifteen years and has also served on the management committee of Artists’s Centre.

Ramdas Phutane

Ramdas Phutane is a satirical poet and screenwriter, filmmaker and director in Maharashtra. He has successfully juggled roles of an artist and a Member of Legislative Assembly of Maharashtra State. Some of his works include films like Samna (1975), Sarvasakshi (1979) and Survanta (1994). His directorial project, Sarpanch Bhagirath, is set for a March, 2016 release.

Shri Manoj Joshi

Manoj Joshi is an Indian film and television actor. A graduate from Sir J.J. School of Arts, he began his career in Marathi theatre, also putting up performances in Gujarati and Hindi theatre. He has also acted in over 60 films since 1998, many of his roles being comedy. His earliest well known serials include Chanakya, Ek Mahal Ho Sapno Ka, Rau (Marathi), Sangdil, Kabhi Souten Kabhi Saheli, Khichdi (Occasional), Mura Raska Mai La (Marathi). Manoj Joshi hails from Adapodara Village, Himatnagar City, District Sabarkantha, Gujarat.

Prof. Dr. Sudhakar Chavan

Prof. Dr. Sudhakar Chavan is known as Bhishmacharya, an expert in arts and a scholar. G. D Art(Painting) in 1970, Art Master (A.M) and M.A (History) in 1993, Diploma in Indology in Arts and Arts-related educational qualification is the testimony of his academic excellence. Prof. Chavan was the head of the department at Abhinav Art College, Pune, a journey started as art teacher in secondary school to the senior faculty member in art College.

Smt. Urmila Kanoria

Urmila Kanoria, born in 1942 grew up in Modinagar and started her married life in Kolkata. She worked with various charitable organisations including Women’s Interlink,

Child Welfare and Mother Teresa’s Missionaries of Charity. Inspired by Shantiniketan, after moving to Ahmedabad in 1980, Urmila Kanoria’s dream to build a world renowned centre for creativity came in to being in the form of the Kanoria Centre for Arts (KCA) in 1984 at Ahmedabad, which she heads as a chairperson. Urmila Kanoria’s work in fostering art and social development has been recognised nationally and internationally. She has been felicitated in Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and is a recipient many Awards.

Minali Thakkar

Minali Thakkar, is an artist and art consultant. She holds a BFA and MFA degree from JJ school of art and heads an art advisory firm ‘Art Approach’. Her expertise lies in the art management, valuation and restoration of fine art. She is an art Head of ‘Celebrate Bandra’ a community art festival celebrating local Bandra culture since 2009.

She has received, an award for creative entrepreneur on women’s day by Business Mint 2021 and holds Guinness World Award for creating the largest installation with cricket bats, 2019. She was also presented women achievers award by FICCI- The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry 2012-13. She has made the place in Limca Book of Records for her art installation – ‘Bottle Fall’, made out of 40,000 recycled bottles, 2011.

Chandrajit Yadav

Prof. Surendra Jagtap

Prof. Surendra Jagtap is a senior artist based in Mumbai. He is the current principal of J. K. Academy of Art and Design. His paintings are known to be momentous, they create drama by his colors and compositions imparting a unique expression. His economical use of lines displays his innate understanding of his subjects. He is at ease with both oils and watercolor and has demonstrated his expertise by painting live extensively in art institutions.
Surendra Jagtap has had several exhibitions in India and Abroad.

Prof. Anil Naik

Smt. Madahavi Gangan

Madhavi Gangan is a senior professional artist. She graduated with a B.F.A in Illustration from the Sir. J.J. Institute of Applied Art in 1989.
She has created critically acclaimed paintings and has been part of eminent exhibitions in India and abroad. Madhavi is a professional art teacher, she paints and resides in Mumbai.

Ganpat Bhadke

Vilas Salunkke

Vilas Salunkke studied art at Sir. J J School of Arts. His natural penchant for helping people made took social work to help people to cope with life’s challenges.