Sadanand Bakre, born in Baroda in 1920, is regarded as a pioneer among Indian modernists. Bakre obtained a diploma in modelling and stone carving from Sir J. J. School of Art, Bombay. In 1947, along with his friend F. N. Souza, Bakre founded the
Sadanand Bakre, born in Baroda in 1920, is regarded as a pioneer among Indian modernists. Bakre obtained a diploma in modelling and stone carving from Sir J. J. School of Art, Bombay. In 1947, along with his friend F. N. Souza, Bakre founded the Progressive Artists’ Group, which was joined by S. H. Raza, K. H. Ara, H. A. Gade, and M. F. Husain, as founder members.
Like many of his generation, Bakre's development as an artist followed the trajectory of moving from academic realism to abstraction, in his paintings as well as his sculptures. From "spiky forms," he had, by the late ’60s, moved to more simplified forms with a growing interest in structure. Bakre held focus on the human form by transforming it through distortion, fragmentation, and partial elimination. His canvases were executed in a sculptural manner depicting geometrical grids and abstracted human forms in a two-dimensional pattern. The bold and bright colours highlighted the contrast of straight and curved lines.
Bakre died in Ratnagiri district in 2007.
Academics
Joined Civil Aviation Flying School, Government of India, Saharanpur (1945)
Diploma in Modeling and Stone Carving, Sir J.J School of Art, Mumbai (1944)
Sir J. J School of Art, Mumbai (1939)
Awards
Certificate in Sculpture, Bombay Art Society, Mumbai in 1950
Best Sculpture, President Cowasji Jehangir Prize, Bombay Art Society, Mumbai in 1950
Best Sculpture, His Highness The Princess of Berar Cash Prize, Hyderabad Art Society, Hyderabad in 1949
Silver Medal, Hyderabad Art Society, Hyderabad in 1949
First Cash Prize, Best Portrait, Hyderabad Art Society, Hyderabad in 1949
Best Work in Oil Painting, Late Rustom Sodio Memorial Cash Prize, Bombay Art Society, Mumbai in 1948
Best Work in Sculpture, Silver Medal, Bombay Art Society, Mumbai in 1948
President Sir Cowasji Jehangir Cash Prize in Sculpture, Bombay Art Society, Mumbai in 1948
Cash Prize, Bombay Art Society, Mumbai in 1947
Professor O.V.Mulller Memorial Cash Prize, Bombay Art Society, Mumbai in 1944
Lord Harding’s Scholarship in 1943
Lord Mayo Gold Medal, Sir J.J School of Art, Mumbai in 1943
His Highness .The Raja Saheb of Bhore’s Cash Prize in Sculpture, Bombay Art Society, Mumbai in 1942
His Highness The Maharaja of Bhavnagar’s Cash Prize in Sculpyure, Bombay Art Society, Mumbai in 1942
Bronze Medal in Sculpture, Kolhapur Art Society, Kolhapur in 1942
Sir Cowasji Jehangir First Prize in Sculpture, Bombay Art Society, Mumbai in 1941
Certificate in Sculpture, Bombay Art Society, Mumbai in 1940
Two Scholarships, Sir J.J School of Art, Mumbai in 1940
His Highness The Maharaja of Bhavnagar’s Cash Prize in Sculpture, Bombay Art Society, Mumbai in 1939
