Akhilesh
Born in august 1956 at Indore. His father was a Drawing teacher and first Gold medalist from Madhya Pradesh. In his house he had an atmosphere of painting, music and medicines since childhood.
He studied Fine Arts at Indore School of arts and held his first one man show at age of 20, with 104 feet long drawing in 1976, since then he had 47 one man shows to his credit at Mumbai, Kolkata, New Delhi, Indore, Bhopal, Chennai, Hyderabad, Benares, Bangalore, Baroda, Singapore, California, Tokyo Japan, Washington, New York, London, France, Netherlands, Moscow. And many other cities.
He has been Awarded Artists in Residency from Institute of Advance studies Nantes France and Swedish writers association Sweden. Went to Austria on invitation for Artist-in-residence. Yuva Kalyan Kendra Bhopal, Kalidas Academy certificate Award Ujjain, Camlin Award, Mumbai, State Award Gwalior Bharat Bhawan Biennial Bhopal Govt. of India Senior Artist Fellowship New Delhi Raza Foundation Award New Delhi Kala Kaustubh Samman Ujjain Vagishwari Samman for his book ‘Daraspothi’
He has Curated many shows some important ones are: ‘Women in painting’ for Sahitya Parishad Bhopal, ‘Five Painters’ for Asian Art Centre Maryland USA, ‘Madhya Pradesh Artists’ for Gallery Art Indus, New Delhi, ‘Central Zone Show’ for Tao Art Gallery Mumbai, ‘Ishara’ for Art Today Gallery New Delhi. ‘Middle Edge’ for Icon gallery San Francisco, ‘Roop Adhyatma’ for Bodhi gallery Singapore, Palette art Gallery New Delhi and Tao Art gallery Mumbai. ‘Amurt’ for Akar Prakar Kolkata ' Madhyama' Fifteen Young Artists from Madhya Pradesh for Raza Foundation.
Set-up two museums: Police Band Museum at P.H.Q. Bhopal and Tribal, Folk and Contemporary art of Malwa at Lal Baugh Palace, Indore.
Went to Towson University Maryland, U.S.A to deliver lecture on Indian contemporary Arts and co Curated a show Five Indian Painters’.
Went to Austria for Artists in Residency
Went to France IEA Nantes for Artists in Residency.
Founded ‘Black Group’ with seven painters at Indore in the year 1978.
Traveled Japan, Moscow, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, U.P. Surguja and Raigarh in connection to organize exhibition of contemporary Indian Art.
Chamalieres, France has nominated him as one of the committee member of Chamalieres Triennial Committee.
Wrote biography of Eminent Painter Maqbbol Fida Husain under title ‘Maqbool’.
Wrote two books of essays on Artists and Art ‘Achambhe ka Rona’and “Daraspothi’
Two books published 'Shirshak Nahi' and 'Dekhana' on art and artists.
A book of essays on Maqbool Fida Husain under the same title.
English Translation of 'Maqbool' published.
A book of conversation with Abhishek Kashyap 'Kalakar ka Dekhana' published
Translated a book 'Vafa ki Ajib Danstan' by Ahamad-Ul- Umari
Edited special issue of ‘Kala Varta’ on eminent painter S.H.Raza
Translated in Hindi ‘Kukur Nakshatra’ of Agneta Pleijel’s novel Dog Star. Published by Vani Prakashan Newdelhi
Translated Mark Chagall’s autobiography ‘La Vie’ in Hindi under the titled Aap beetee’
Published a book of conversation with poet friend Piyush Daiya under title ‘Akhilesh’
Went to France on the invitation of noted painter Syed Haider Raza.
His works are in collection of many institutions in India and abroad like – Bharat Bhawan, Bhopal, National Gallery of Modern Arts, Lalit Kala Academy, HUDCO, New Delhi, Victoria and Albert Museum, London and in Mr. Mrs. Chester Herwitz collection U.S.A. Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaipur, C.C.M.B. Hyderabad, Madhav Nair Foundation Kerla, Asian Art Centre, Maryland, U.S.A., MSIL Bangalore, Mahatma Gandhi International Hindi University, Vardha. Peabody Museum, Boston. Gallery Muller and Plate, Munich. IPCL Baroda. L.V.Prasad Eye Institute Hyderabad. Vidhan Bhawan Bhopal. Princess of Iran. Mr.and Mrs. Mahendra Tak Washington. Embassy of Switzerland, Newdelhi. Vidhan Sabha Bhawan, Bhopal. CMC Newdelhi. Institute of Advance Studies Nantes, France. Lives and works in Bhopal