My artistic practice is a profound exploration of visual impressions gathered through extensive travels across diverse landscapes. For me, a city or a place is defined not merely by its physical structures, but by its unique quality of light, a distinct color palette, and the intangible atmosphere it exudes. My work seeks to balance the vibrant intensity of Indian environments with the soft, restrained aesthetics encountered during my international journeys.
In my creative process, I operate within the delicate space between direct perception and the fluidity of memory. As observations transition into recollections, the rigidity of architectural forms begins to dissolve, and landscapes open into more ethereal compositions. This dissolution represents a shift from the tangible world toward a more internal, atmospheric reality.
Ultimately, my paintings serve as a sanctuary where light, distance, and sensory experiences converge. Through these works, I aim to capture the 'presence' of a place creating a visual dialogue that transcends geographical boundaries and dwells in the essence of the journey itself.
-Ritesh
Born into a rural farming family in Maharashtra, my journey as an artist began with a deep curiosity for the world around me and a determination to pursue art despite limited opportunities. As a first-generation learner, I moved from my native village to Pune to study Fine Arts, where I built a strong foundation in drawing and painting through years of rigorous academic training. My early practice focused on portraiture and landscapes, earning recognition through national exhibitions and awards, but over time my artistic vision evolved beyond representation. Extensive travels across India and internationally reshaped my understanding of place, light, and memory, leading me to explore landscapes as emotional and atmospheric experiences rather than literal depictions. Participating in the Summer School at the St. Petersburg Academy of Fine Arts in Russia further expanded my visual language and strengthened my commitment to creating paintings that exist between observation and recollection. Today, working between Pune and my ancestral village, I continue to develop a body of work that balances the vibrant energy of Indian environments with the quiet restraint of places encountered abroad. Through recent solo and group exhibitions, my practice has grown into an ongoing exploration of light, atmosphere, and the essence of place, inviting viewers to experience landscapes not as destinations, but as spaces shaped by memory, emotion, and presence.
- Ritesh
### **Artistic Influences and Inclinations**
My artistic practice is deeply influenced by the relationship between landscape, light, and memory. Growing up in rural Maharashtra instilled in me a lasting sensitivity to nature, changing seasons, and the quiet rhythms of village life. Alongside these early experiences, my travels across India and abroad have expanded my visual understanding, exposing me to diverse cultures, architectures, and atmospheres. I am particularly drawn to artists who transform observed reality into evocative, emotional spaces, where light and colour become carriers of memory rather than mere description. My work reflects an ongoing inclination towards balancing the vibrant intensity of Indian landscapes with the subtle restraint encountered in European environments. While rooted in observation, my paintings gradually move towards abstraction, allowing forms to dissolve and atmosphere to emerge. Through this process, I seek to create contemplative spaces that invite viewers to experience not only a place, but also its emotional resonance and enduring presence.
- Ritesh
Educational Qualifications
*Summer School Recipient (2024) – St. Petersburg Academy of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, Russia.
* BFA Bridge Course (2016) – Savitribai Phule Pune University.
* Government Diploma in Art – Drawing & Painting (2014) – Abhinav Kala Mahavidyalaya , Pune (First Class).
* S.S.C. (2008) – Maharashtra State Board.
Exhibitions Participated In
Solo Exhibitions
* 2026 April – Solo Exhibition, Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai.
* 2019 December – Solo Exhibition, PNG Art Gallery, Pune.
Group Exhibitions & Art Events
*2026 – Emerging Voices of India*, Group Exhibition, Delhi.
*2024, 2023, 2022, 2014 – Maharashtra State Annual Art Exhibition (Professional) .
*2022, 2016, 2013, 2012*– V.V. Oak Art Exhibition, Pune.
*2022, 2015–16 – Bombay Art Society Annual Art Exhibition.
*2016- National Artist Camp, Chiplun–Ratnagiri.
* 2016 – Yuva Kala Abhiyan, Kankawali (Organised by Bombay Art Society).
*2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 – Art Society of India Annual Art Exhibition.
*2015, 2014, 2013 – Camel Art Foundation Annual Art Exhibition.
*2012– Nashik Kala Niketan College of Fine Arts Painting Competition.
Awards-
*2022 – Scholarship Recipient for Workshops in France.
*2021 – Hina Bhatt Art Ventures Award for Abstract Work.
*2016 – P. Jambhalikar Award for Best Painting, Sumbaran Art Foundation, Pune.
*2016– G. N. Jadhav Award for Painting, V. V. Oak Art Exhibition, Pune.
*2014 – Kolhapur Art Foundation Award for Best Portrait.
*2013–14 – Sai Chitrakala Mahavidyalaya State Level Competition Award for Best Portrait, Pune.
* 2013–14 – D' Cad Devrukh College of Fine Arts Award for Best Landscape, Ratnagiri.
*2013–14– Lalit Kala College of Fine Arts Award for Best Landscape, Ichalkaranji.
*2013- The Art Society of India Award for Best Portrait.
*2012 & 2013 – Nashik Kala Niketan Award for Best Landscape.
*2012– Matheran Pratisthan Award for Best Landscape, presented by eminent artist Vasudev Kamat.
