Ganapathi Agnihothri, a Bengaluru based Artist and Journalist, is known for his experimental and innovative art works that encapsulates the world filled with binaries- of truth and falsity, illusion and reality. Using the colours of his imagination, Agnihothri creates a powerful canvas that express varied faces of the possible and impossible. He constructs a visual language through the use of everyday aspects of nature.
E d u c a t i o n
Born in an agricultural family based in Muroor village of Kumta taluk, Agnihothri pursued his high school at Pragati Vidyalaya Muroor, graduation at A.V Baliga College and later completed his Art education from Mysore. After which he started his profession as a journalist and keeps his passion alive of being an artist through varied platforms.
- Drawing Master Course (DMC)
- Diploma In Drawing & Painting (GD Art)
- Diploma In Art Master / Literature (AM)
- Diploma in Multimedia (Arena Animation)
- Master of Fine Art (MFA), Mysore University, Karnataka- India.
J o u r n a l i s m
Apart from this, Agnihothri’s 21 years of professional life has been with major newspapers of Karnataka as a journalist taking on varied roles and writing on unrelenting topics.
- 4 Year Editorial and Reporting experience in Kannada Janantaranga, Karavali Ale Mangalore/Kumta (2002-2005)
- 5 Year Editorial and Reporting experience in Kannada Prabha Daily,Bangaluru (2005-2010)
- Few Months experience in Suvarna News 24×7 (2010)
- 2 Year Editorial and Reporting in Vijayanext and Vijaya Karnataka Bangaluru. (2010-2012)
- Three and half year experience in Vijayavani (2012-2016)
- 4 Year Experience in Editorial and Reporting in Udayavani and KannadaPrabha Daily
- Presently, I am working as Freelance Artist and Freelance Journalist.
C u r a t i o n & D i r e c t I o n
Agnihothri’s accomplishments take a centre stage along with his art works. His experience as an art curator for “Karnataka Print Biennale” organized for the first time by Karnataka Lalithakala Academy to encourage graphic art, Art exhibition on the occasion of International Women’s Day under the aegis of Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts, Government of India. He has worked as an art camp director for a joint art and cultural festival organized by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and Infosys foundation.
Being a fellow himself, Ganapathi Agnihotri has also worked as a mentor of Graphic Art for artists who were granted fellowship by Karnataka Lalithakala Academy. For about six months the candidates were trained with etching and wood cutting.
Print medium has been his favourite since art education days and is experienced in working with varied artists from the same genre. This includes lino cut, wood cut, etching, serigraphy, lithography, calligraphy, and many more modern graphic art and has been exhibited.
S o l o E x i b i b i t i o n
Ganapati Agnihotri has 14 solo exhibitions to his credits, which were held at major cities such as Mumbai, Pune, Bengaluru, Mysore and so on.
G r o u p E x i b i b i t i o n
2000 to 2009: Group Millennium annual shows with Mohan Kumar and Azmi Mohammad Khan drew lot of appreciations and was eagerly awaited by art lovers.
2000: ‘Prints 2000’ Graphics Expo.
2001: ‘Focus 2001’ in Badami.
2010: ‘Sammilana’ Group Show in Bengalooru. ( Painting exhibition of 65 well known artists of Karnataka, Conducted by Shrusti Gallery).
2012: July- Renaissance Galleries, Bengalooru.
2012: November- Third Eye Gallerie, Bengalooru.
2013: Chitra Sante and Chitra Parise, Art Fair
2013-2014: All India Show: EXPEDITION- Journey of Creative Art MYSORE, KOCHI and GOA
2017: We6 INDIA Group Show: Raja Ravi Varma Art Gallery Pune (Artist’s from Karnataka, Maharastra and Delhi)
2017: ‘ART TOGETHER’ Group Show at Darpan Art Gallery Pune
2018: ‘IM LIVE’ Group Show at Chitrakala Parishath Bengalooru-2018 (Artist’s from Karnataka, Maharastra and Delhi)
2018: Group Show at Anithya Art Gallery, Tumkur
2018: PAPB Group Show at Chitrakala Parishath Bengalooru-2018
2019: Group Show at IT Centre Bengalooru
2019: ‘KIMAYA’, Group Show at Karnataka Chitrakala Parishath Bengalooru.
2019: ‘CHOURAS’, Group Show at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai
2020: NGMA, New Delhi Virtual art show 2020
2021: Chitrasante, Virtual art show 2020
2021: Bharatiya Kala Vichar Munch Online Camp and Group Show
2021: The Uninhibited Souls Group Show at KIAN Art Gallery, Pune
2021: UNCERTAINTY WOODCUT PRINTS GROUP SHOW at CKP
2021: Kalaniketan Mysore Presents “Navaratri Kalotsav” Online Show
2021: PRT Kalasambhrama Online Show
2021: Manikarnika Gallery Group Show
2022: “resilience” group show, organized by Krishna Setty Foundation
2022: Karnataka Print Biennial 2021, organized by Karnataka Lalitkala Academy.
2022: “AaRu BeRu” Group show at Chitrakala Parishath, Organised by ArtBeru India Artist Forum.
2023: 63rd National Exhibition of Art, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi
2023: “Germination” Group show at Chitrakala Parishath, Organised by ArtBeru India Artist Forum.
2024: REAL 2024 group show, curated by Anoop Kamath at The Stainless Gallery, New Delhi.
2024: ‘Kruti‘ Group show at IIWC
Organised Param Foundation, Bengaluru
2024: Book Brahma Literature Festival Art Exhibition
2024: Diverse Perceptions– Studio Kalavistaara annual group show at IIWC, Bengaluru
C u r a t i o n & D i r e c t I o n
Agnihothri’s works beautifully juxtaposes the world of his upbringing, the actual conditions of poor and the rich, inequality, differences, valueless behaviours, blind beliefs etc., Along with these humanly aspects, he dauntlessly presents the world of animals and birds, the selfishness of humans towards the wildlife and many more. These luminous aspects haunt him to create more of such art works that highlight the burning issues of the society that we live in. He believes that in the contemporary period instead of sticking on to a particular genre, an artist must inculcate newness and produce works that are absolutely novel.
P a r t i c i p a t i o n
- Online Art Workshop 2020, NGMA, New Delhi
- Online Workshop 2020, Karnataka Lalitakala Academy
- All India Dasara Annual Exhibition, Mysore
- Karnataka Lalita Kala Academy Annual Shows
- National AIFACS Expo
- South Zone Culture Centre Nagpur Traditional painting Expo
- Camlin Annual Expo, Bengaluru
- ABVP Annual Painting Expo, Bengaluru
- Directorate of Field Publicity Expo
- Mysore Dasara Annual Expo
- Chitra Sante, Chitrakala Parishat, Bengaluru
- Chitra Parise ART FAIR, Lalitakala Academy,Bengaluru
- EFAC 8th Annual Art Exhibition-2024 at Jodhpur
C o l l e c t i o n s
- Karnataka Lalitakala Academy, Bangalore
- Shri Kalaniketan School of Fine Art, Mysore
- Shri Ravivarma School of Art Mysore
- South Zone Culture Centre, Nagpur
- Srusti Art Gallery, Bangalore
- Priyadarshini Filaments Pvt. Ltd, Bengaluru
- Bhimas Inn, Royal Hotel Mysore, Chennai, Colambo.
- ‘Siri’ Art Collector, Mysore
- ‘ARAMA’ Group, Bengaluru
- Vivid kriation, Bengaluru
- Dayal Group, Mumbai
- Indian Institute of World Culture (IIWC) Bengaluru
A w a r d s
- Karnataka Lalita Kala Academy Annual Award for Etching Print-2022
- Printmaking Fellowship, Karnataka Lalita Kala Academy-2021-22
- Eastern Foundation of Art & Culture Best Graphic Award for Etching Print-2024
- FN Souza Award / 20th Annual Indian Royal Academy National Award-2024
- All India Art Contest, Mysore Dasara – 2015
- The South Central Zone Cultural Center, Nagpur 2002 (Consolation)
- Mysore Dasara State Award – 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004
- Rastriya Pratibha puraskar – 2001
- Shree Kalaniketan School of fine art Mysore ‘Best worker’ – 1999, 2000, 2001
