K. K. HEBBAR

Akara Modern

1911 -1996

Kattingeri Krishna Hebbar, born in Karnataka and later based in Mumbai, studied art at the Sir J. J. School of Art in Mumbai. Thereafter, he continued pursuing an education in art at the Académie Julian in Paris. He was a corresponding member of the Academy of Arts, Berlin, between 1975-1993.
 
Despite having trained in Western art philosophy, Hebbar’s body of work remained rooted in indigenous traditions like the Jain manuscripts, Rajput and Mughal miniatures, and the murals at Ajanta. Although Hebbar’s inclination lay toward Western art, he made a conscious effect to blend in the more traditional forms into his surrealistic expressions. Understanding and finding his style was of paramount importance to Hebbar- he even learnt Kathak to grasp the idea of rhythm. His explorations and experimentations with mediums, methods, and styles are what made his art true to self. His style evolved eventually towards abstraction, oil being a major medium, was complemented by a robust body of line drawing works. 
 
Hebbar participated in various international art exhibitions like the Venice Biennale, São Paulo Art Biennial, and Tokyo Biennale. He was honoured with a number of awards throughout his career, including the Padma Bhushan in 1989, and the Maharashtra Shasan ‘Gourav Puraskar’ in 1990.

Images


Exhibitions


India Art Fair 2025 February 06 - February 09 , 2025
Stillness In Motion August 17 - September 18 , 2023
When Attitude Takes Form April 07 - May 14 , 2022
The Idolized Muses June 25 - July 31 , 2021
India Art Fair 2018 February 09 - February 12 , 2018

Builders , Oil on Canvas , 40 x 30 inches , 1956

Untitled , Oil on Canvas , 40 x 30 inches , 1963

Workers , Oil on Canvas , 40 x 30 inches , 1960

Drought , Oil on Canvas , 36 x 30 inches , 1992

Untitled , Oil on Board , 24 x 30 inches , 1959

Veena , Oil on Canvas , 30 x 40 inches , 1973

The Glow , Oil on Canvas , 29.5 x 35.5 inches , 1972

Untitled (Fisher Women) , Oil on Canvas , 30.5 x 40 inches , 1983

Homage to Shastri , Oil on Canvas , 30 x 24 inches , 1967

Untitled , Oil on Canvas , 40 x 30 inches , 1979

Dancer , Oil on Canvas , 24 x 20 inches , 1982

Flower & Sun , Oil on Canvas , 30 x 30 inches , 1983

Folk Dance , Tempera on Paper , 24 x 20 inches , 1954

Untitled , Oil on Canvas , 10 x 14 inches , 1966

Untitled (Veena) , Oil on Canvas , 22 x 40 inches , 1968