UTKARSH MAKWANA
Akara Contemporary
1989
Born in 1989,
Utkarsh Makwana holds a Master’s Degree in Visual Arts from Maharaja Sayajirao
University of Baroda. Through his paintings, Makwana questions the everyday
realities he comes across. The artist draws inspiration from miniature
traditions creating multifaceted layered narratives through his paintings. His
prime concern is the depiction of a story in each work, like a traveler documenting his journey in an imaginary world. One can also find historical and
mythological references in his works.
Makwana’s visual
interpretations are arresting due to his choice of colours and well-thought-out
compositions. The Vadodara-based artist uses his skill to lead the viewer to
behold fabulous territories that they would often miss and encourages them to
frame their narratives within his art. His artworks navigate through philosophy
and comedy while also touching upon the wonder one gets from the mundane. His
work then becomes the point of interaction between the ordinary and the
invented realms for the viewers.
Represented by
Akara, Utkarsha Makwana has had two solo exhibitions with the gallery- ‘Yes,
Blue! But Which Blue - Utkarsh Makwana’, 2023 and ‘The Wonder Journal’, 2019.
His group shows include ‘Let Me Tell You
A Story… Part II’, Curated by Luiza Teixeira De Freitas, Akara
Contemporary, 2023 and ‘The First
Contemporaries’, 2022.
He is a recipient
of the prestigious Nasreen Mohamedi Scholarship Award (2012).