Artists

Shadab Kazi

Shadab Kazi (b. 1999, Ahmednagar, Maharashtra) is a Mumbai-based visual artist currently pursuing his Master’s degree in Portrait Painting at Sir J.J. School of Art. He completed his Bachelor’s in Fine Art (Painting) from the same institution in 2024, after earning an Art Teacher Diploma from Pragatkala Mahavidyalaya in 2020.

Working primarily in oil colours, Shadab’s practice explores themes of memory, nostalgia, innocence, and emotional storytelling. His paintings often combine landscapes with recurring motifs such as children, still life objects, and cats, creating intimate visual narratives rooted in personal experience and everyday life.

He has participated in several group exhibitions across India and internationally, including the 44th Monsoon Show and Prerna at Jehangir Art Gallery, as well as Inviting the Future in Moscow, Russia (2025). His work has received multiple recognitions, including awards from the Art Society of India, The Bombay Art Society, and Camlin, along with the P.A. Dhond Award and several state- and national-level distinctions.

Through a deeply personal yet universally relatable visual language, Shadab Kazi continues to establish himself as an emerging voice in contemporary Indian art.

Ajit Raut

Ajit Raut (b. 1998, Palghar, Maharashtra) is a Mumbai-based visual artist currently pursuing his Master’s in Fine Art (Portraiture Painting) at Sir J.J. School of Art, where he also completed his Bachelor’s in Fine Art (Painting). He previously earned an Art Teacher Diploma in 2018. Rooted in the landscapes and lived experiences of his hometown, Ajit’s practice explores solitude, psychological stillness, and the emotional spaces that exist beneath everyday life.

Working through a blend of academic portraiture and textured visual surfaces, his work is informed by the philosophy of “Dead Space” — a reflection on solitude not as despair, but as an essential truth of the human condition. His paintings attempt to bridge the gap between the invisible inner world and the visible canvas, often evoking quiet introspection and emotional depth.

Ajit has participated in several exhibitions and art camps across India, including the Monsoon Show at Jehangir Art Gallery, exhibitions at Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath, and initiatives such as Glory of Heritage at Raj Bhavan, Mumbai. His work has received multiple recognitions, including awards from The Bombay Art Society, Art Society of India, and several state-level landscape competitions.

Through his evolving practice, Ajit Raut continues to develop a contemplative visual language that reflects themes of isolation, memory, and the quiet emotional realities of contemporary life.

Ashwin Khapare

Ashwin Khapare (b. 2000, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra) is a Mumbai-based visual artist currently pursuing his Master’s in Fine Art (Creative Painting) at Sir J.J. School of Art, where he also completed his Bachelor’s in Fine Art. Deeply influenced by the cultural landscape of the Konkan region, his practice draws inspiration from migrating communities, Kokani folk traditions, Naman performance culture, and the relationship between memory, identity, and place.

Ashwin’s work explores themes of belonging, movement, and cultural continuity through layered compositions that blend traditional motifs with contemporary visual language. Rooted in personal experience and regional history, his paintings often incorporate intricate patterns, symbolic imagery, and references to nature, reflecting the resilience of communities and the evolving dialogue between tradition and modernity.

He has participated in several notable exhibitions, including the 44th Monsoon Show and the 106th Annual Exhibition of the Art Society of India at Jehangir Art Gallery, as well as exhibitions in Russia and Ahmedabad. His work has received multiple recognitions, including the Dhrupatibai Bhagaratabai Kalkheda Award at the 44th Monsoon Art Show (2024), the Gold Award at the National Art Contest by Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath (2023), and awards from The Bombay Art Society and Sir J.J. School of Art.

Through his evolving practice, Ashwin Khapare continues to create works that celebrate regional identity while engaging with broader conversations around migration, memory, and cultural preservation.