Priyasri Art Gallery's Association with Jogen Chowdhury

One of India’s acclaimed artists, Jogen Chowdhury, has shared a long and meaningful association with Priyasri Art Gallery since 2004. For the past two decades, Priyasri Patodia, the founder and curator of the gallery, has fostered a close artistic vision with the artist resulting in several exhibitions. His works have been featured in multiple exhibitions, both group and solo, across various venues, marking a continued collaboration.

Jogen Chowdhury’s first exhibition at Priyasri Art Gallery was “Drawing: An Act of Art I - Drawing by the Masters” in 2005, a landmark group show that celebrated the act of drawing and drawings themselves as independent and tangible artistic expressions. The second edition of “Drawing: An Act of Art II” was held in 2006, establishing the power of drawing as a human act of art. In 2009, Chowdhury’s participation in another significant group exhibition titled “Indian Portraiture”, explored portraiture and figuration in Indian art where the artist’s works offered an insight into the psychological and textured depth of his practice.

In 2010, Chowdhury’s print works were exhibited in the group show, “Contemporary Printmaking in India”, which traced the vast history of printmaking in India and featured hundred Indian printmakers. Following this exhibition, Priyasri Patodia published a book, sharing the title “Contemporary Printmaking in India" which comprised essays and images of print works by various masters that were exhibited in the show. The gallery partnered with the artist in yet another group show , “111 Photographic Expressions by India’s top Printmakers” in 2016 which showcased Chowdhury’s quite yet expressive cross-hatched line’s prowess.

Through multiple collaborations, Priyasri Art Gallery has showcased the works of Jogen Chowdhury in platforms such as Art Expo 2009 and Indian Art Collective 2011, alongside various other artists. In the 2017 edition of India Art Fair, the gallery presented the first ever two-man show “Schema”, of the artist along with Akbar Padamsee, who are both prominent masters in Indian Art. The show attempted to draw attention to how these artists engaged in some personal matrix in formation of their works, whether subtly or overtly.
Jogen Choedhury has been a leading figure in the Indian Contemporary Art scene through his personal yet enigmatic artworks. More recently, in 2023, the gallery curated a solo exhibition featuring a slice of the artist’s oeuvre of over fifty years. The show titled “The Night The Writing Fell Silent” delved into a deeper introspection of his recent works that combined modern and traditional folkloric aesthetics. This was followed by another solo exhibition “Art Mumbai - Special Exhibition” in 2024, that showcased Chowdhury’s vast practice which reflects an uniquely Indian approach to art.

Through each of these associations, Jogen Chowdhury’s presence and artistic legacy has nurtured the gallery and we look forward to continuing this relationship.