Lalu Prasad Shaw
Solo Exhibitions
"Babu and Bibi", Gallery 7, Mumbai in 2017.
"Looking In", Galerie 88, Kolkata in 2011-12.
"Graceful Silence", Art Musings, Mumbai in 2011.
"The Myrid Minded Artist’, Gallery Sanskriti, Kolkata in 2008.
"Sepia Notes", Art Musings, Mumbai in 2007.
"Painting", Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata in 1995.
"Graphic Art", Centre for Contemporary Art, New Delhi in 1990.
"Graphic Art", The Seagull Foundation for Arts, Kolkata in 1990.
"Painting", Dhoomimal Art Centre, New Delhi in 1987.
"Painting", Dhoomimal Art Centre, New Delhi in 1985.
"Graphic Art", Heritage Art Gallery, New Delhi in 1984.
"Graphic", Udipi, Bangalore in 1980.
"Graphic", Sarla Art Gallery, Chennai in 1976.
"Painting", Arts and Prints Gallery, Kolkata in 1967.
"Painting", Art and Industry Gallery, Kolkata in 1965.
Group Exhibitions
"The Sensation of Gestures - IAF Parallel", Gallery Dotwalk, Gurgaon in 2023.
"Mark of Masters -2", Art and soul, Mumbai in 2009.
"Modern Continuous", Galerie 88, Kolkata in 2009.
"Tales, Reflection and Constructs", ITC Windsor, Bangalore in 2008.
"High on Art", Visual Art Gallery, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi in 2007.
"An Evening in Paris....Rome....London", Gallery Sanskriti, Kolkata in 2007.
"Tales, Reflection and Constructs", Galerie 88, Kolkata in 2007.
Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Kolkata in 2007.
"Bengal Chromosome", Artists’ Circle, Kolkata in 2007.
"Linear Configuration", Art and Soul, New Delhi in 2007.
"Suncrome 3", Akar Prakar, Kolkata in 2007.
"Red Earth and the Pouring Rain", organized by Red Earth Gallery at LANXESS ABS Gallery, Baroda in 2007.
Society of Contemporary Artists, Kolkata in 2007.
"Sensuality", Galleria, New Delhi - 2007.
"Etch and Print", Art and Deal, New Delhi in 2007.
17th Anniversary Group Show, Gallery Ganesha, New Delhi in 2007.
The Indian Art Show 2006, Arushi Art, New Delhi in 2006.
"Tradition in Modernity", Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata in 2006.
"The Tempera Show", Akar Prakar, Kolkata in 2006.
Gallery Sanskriti, Kolkata in 2006.
Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Kolkata in 2006.
The New Space, Dubai in 2006.
"Face to Face", Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata in 2005.
"Sunchrome Exhibition", Kolkata Paper Market, Kolkata in 2005.
Galleria, Mumbai in 2005.
Art and Soul, New Delhi in 2005.
"Call of the Real", organized by Gallery Sanskriti at Colombo in 2004.
"Perspecta", Gallery 88, London in 2002.
"Transection", Gallery 88, London in 2002.
"Contemporary Woman by Modern Indian Artist", Hong Kong in 2000
Exhibition of Graphical Art from Asian Countries, Volkshochschule, Leverkusen, Germany in 1977
Dhaka, Chittagong, Bangladesh in 1973.
Contemporary Indian Prints Exhibition, Poland in 1971.
Contemporary Indian Prints in Kolkata organized by USIS Smithsonian at New Delhi in 1971.
Prints from Asia, USA in 1971.
‘India Alike’, Texas in 1971.
Group 8, New Delhi in 1971.
Expo -70, Touring Exhibition, Japan in 1971.
Society of Contemporary Artists, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi in 1970.
Participations
'Transition', 20th Anniversary Show, Centre of International Modern Art(CIMA), Kolkata - 2013-14
‘Manifestations V', Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi - 2011
'Contemporary Printmaking In India', presented by Priyasri Art Gallery, Mumbai at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai; Priyasri Art Gallery, Mumbai - 2010
'Summer Show 2010', Centre of International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata - 2010
'Manifestations IV', Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi - 2010
'From Everyday To The Imagined: Modern Indian Art', Singapore Art Museum, Singapore and at Museum of Art, Seoul National University, Seoul - 2007-08
‘Indian Miniature Painting’, Hong Kong - 1996
II Biennale, Havana - 1986
‘Indian Print Making Today’, Helsinki, Finland - 1985
‘Indian Print Making Today’, Bonn, Germany - 1985
‘Indian Graphic in Indian Fair’, USA - 1985
2nd Asian Art Biennale, Bangladesh - 1984
Exhibition of Indian Graphic, Havana, Cuba - 1982
3rd World Biennale of Graphic Art, London - 1980
3rd World Biennale of Graphic Art, Baghdad - 1980
2nd Norwegian Prints Biennale, Norway - 1974
4th International Exhibition of Original Drawing, Rajeka, Yugoslavia - 1974
International Exhibition, Berlin - 1976
International Exhibition of Graphic Art, Prechem - 1974
Prime Internagionale Biella, Italy - 1973
Contemporary Indian Prints Exhibition, Germany - 1973
10th Ljubijna Biennale, Yugoslavia - 1973
VII Paris Biennale, Paris - 1971
2nd British Biennale, London - 1971
World Youth Festival Art Exhibition, Prague - 1956
Two Faces of Bengal Modernism GANESH PYNE & LALU PRASAD SHAW, New Delhi - 2016
A master of both printmaking and tempera, Lalu Prasad Shaw was born in Siuri, Birbhum, in present-day West Bengal in 1937. He is one of the leading graphic artists in India, and works with different mediums. Taking inspiration from the images of the
A master of both printmaking and tempera, Lalu Prasad Shaw was born in Siuri, Birbhum, in present-day West Bengal in 1937. He is one of the leading graphic artists in India, and works with different mediums. Taking inspiration from the images of the everyday life, including the lives of the working-class Bengali families as well as the middleclass, he creates artworks characterized by rich colours and a crisp, smooth finish.
After graduation, he taught art in various schools of West Bengal, before moving to Kala Bhavan in Santiniketan, where he taught graphic art. There he started closely observing the Bengali middle-class people while working in the photography studio of Kala Bhavan in Santiniketan, which he started depicting in tempera, a medium with an intimate feel. His brooding characters – men, women, and children – seem frozen into a kind of quiescent gesture; they’re formal and speechless, but still expressive.
His works are characterised by skilful economy of lines, and these works reveal Shaw’s fascination with the pre-Independence Company School of art, the traditional Kalighat Patachitras, and the Ajanta cave paintings. He used to say that art was all around him. From his home, he could see the Malakars work their magic on the Sholapith craft, one among the traditional handicrafts of Bengal. He would keenly watch them work on sculpted idols of Goddess Durga, the puja adornments as well as the pata art to place in front of the idol. Soon he began to explore colours and make paintings on his own. Shaw’s art master in school, Pinakinath Bhattacharya was an early influence and Shaw remembers the trips outdoors to paint. He also counts miniature paintings and Kalighat pots as his main source of inspiration. “My works are along the lines of a templar painting,” explains the artist.
A very versatile artist who experiments with forms, Shaw’s art explored both abstraction and figuration in similar intensities. At the age of 32, he took an interest in printmaking, mastering the genre of graphic arts very quickly, and made a name for himself as a printmaker in Indian contemporary art. This fascination with printmaking started in 1967, when he joined the ‘Society of Contemporary Artists’, where he got introduced to graphic prints. Then, Suhas Roy who had returned from Paris taught Shaw the techniques of etching. He was also influenced by an exhibition of graphic prints from Czechoslovakia, which had come to Calcutta.
Recently Shaw started making sculptures, again portraying the middle-class Bengali in bronze. Shaw was not new to the medium, and had earlier experimented with scrap metal models in the past and trained students in clay modelling. But he says that his latest foray into sculpture comes from an interest to see how his two-dimensional paintings would look like in a three-dimensional format.
Shaw has exhibited extensively in India and abroad since 1956, and his works have been part of prestigious international shows such as the second British Biennale in London, 1970, two Norwegian Print Biennales in 1974 and 1978, the seventh Paris Biennale in 1971 and the second Asian Art Biennale hosted by Bangladesh in 1984.
His work is part of the permanent collections of various museums and institutions like the Birla Academy in Kolkata and the Art Forum in Singapore. Lalu Prasad Shaw lives and works in Kolkata.
Academics
He took Diploma is Painting (Western) from Government College of Arts and Crafts, Kolkata (1954-59).
Awards
Honours and Awards
All India Graphic and Drawing Exhibition, Chandigarh - 1981
Award for Graphic Art and Drawing, India - 1978
Birla Academy Award for Graphic Art, India - 1976
National Award in Graphic Art, India - 1971
West Bengal Lalit Kala Academy's Award for Graphic Art, India - 1959
Show less
A master of both printmaking and tempera, Lalu Prasad Shaw was born in Siuri, Birbhum, in present-day West Bengal in 1937. He is one of the leading graphic artists in India, and works with different mediums. Taking inspiration from the images of the everyday life, including the lives of the
A master of both printmaking and tempera, Lalu Prasad Shaw was born in Siuri, Birbhum, in present-day West Bengal in 1937. He is one of the leading graphic artists in India, and works with different mediums. Taking inspiration from the images of the everyday life, including the lives of the working-class Bengali families as well as the middleclass, he creates artworks characterized by rich colours and a crisp, smooth finish.
After graduation, he taught art in various schools of West Bengal, before moving to Kala Bhavan in Santiniketan, where he taught graphic art. There he started closely observing the Bengali middle-class people while working in the photography studio of Kala Bhavan in Santiniketan, which he started depicting in tempera, a medium with an intimate feel. His brooding characters – men, women, and children – seem frozen into a kind of quiescent gesture; they’re formal and speechless, but still expressive.
His works are characterised by skilful economy of lines, and these works reveal Shaw’s fascination with the pre-Independence Company School of art, the traditional Kalighat Patachitras, and the Ajanta cave paintings. He used to say that art was all around him. From his home, he could see the Malakars work their magic on the Sholapith craft, one among the traditional handicrafts of Bengal. He would keenly watch them work on sculpted idols of Goddess Durga, the puja adornments as well as the pata art to place in front of the idol. Soon he began to explore colours and make paintings on his own. Shaw’s art master in school, Pinakinath Bhattacharya was an early influence and Shaw remembers the trips outdoors to paint. He also counts miniature paintings and Kalighat pots as his main source of inspiration. “My works are along the lines of a templar painting,” explains the artist.
A very versatile artist who experiments with forms, Shaw’s art explored both abstraction and figuration in similar intensities. At the age of 32, he took an interest in printmaking, mastering the genre of graphic arts very quickly, and made a name for himself as a printmaker in Indian contemporary art. This fascination with printmaking started in 1967, when he joined the ‘Society of Contemporary Artists’, where he got introduced to graphic prints. Then, Suhas Roy who had returned from Paris taught Shaw the techniques of etching. He was also influenced by an exhibition of graphic prints from Czechoslovakia, which had come to Calcutta.
Recently Shaw started making sculptures, again portraying the middle-class Bengali in bronze. Shaw was not new to the medium, and had earlier experimented with scrap metal models in the past and trained students in clay modelling. But he says that his latest foray into sculpture comes from an interest to see how his two-dimensional paintings would look like in a three-dimensional format.
Shaw has exhibited extensively in India and abroad since 1956, and his works have been part of prestigious international shows such as the second British Biennale in London, 1970, two Norwegian Print Biennales in 1974 and 1978, the seventh Paris Biennale in 1971 and the second Asian Art Biennale hosted by Bangladesh in 1984.
His work is part of the permanent collections of various museums and institutions like the Birla Academy in Kolkata and the Art Forum in Singapore. Lalu Prasad Shaw lives and works in Kolkata.
Academics
He took Diploma is Painting (Western) from Government College of Arts and Crafts, Kolkata (1954-59).
Awards
Honours and Awards
All India Graphic and Drawing Exhibition, Chandigarh - 1981
Award for Graphic Art and Drawing, India - 1978
Birla Academy Award for Graphic Art, India - 1976
National Award in Graphic Art, India - 1971
West Bengal Lalit Kala Academy's Award for Graphic Art, India - 1959
Solo Exhibitions
"Babu and Bibi", Gallery 7, Mumbai in 2017.
"Looking In", Galerie 88, Kolkata in 2011-12.
"Graceful Silence", Art Musings, Mumbai in 2011.
"The Myrid Minded Artist’, Gallery Sanskriti, Kolkata in 2008.
"Sepia Notes", Art Musings, Mumbai in 2007.
"Painting", Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata in 1995.
"Graphic Art", Centre for Contemporary Art, New Delhi in 1990.
"Graphic Art", The Seagull Foundation for Arts, Kolkata in 1990.
"Painting", Dhoomimal Art Centre, New Delhi in 1987.
"Painting", Dhoomimal Art Centre, New Delhi in 1985.
"Graphic Art", Heritage Art Gallery, New Delhi in 1984.
"Graphic", Udipi, Bangalore in 1980.
"Graphic", Sarla Art Gallery, Chennai in 1976.
"Painting", Arts and Prints Gallery, Kolkata in 1967.
"Painting", Art and Industry Gallery, Kolkata in 1965.
Group Exhibitions
"The Sensation of Gestures - IAF Parallel", Gallery Dotwalk, Gurgaon in 2023.
"Mark of Masters -2", Art and soul, Mumbai in 2009.
"Modern Continuous", Galerie 88, Kolkata in 2009.
"Tales, Reflection and Constructs", ITC Windsor, Bangalore in 2008.
"High on Art", Visual Art Gallery, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi in 2007.
"An Evening in Paris....Rome....London", Gallery Sanskriti, Kolkata in 2007.
"Tales, Reflection and Constructs", Galerie 88, Kolkata in 2007.
Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Kolkata in 2007.
"Bengal Chromosome", Artists’ Circle, Kolkata in 2007.
"Linear Configuration", Art and Soul, New Delhi in 2007.
"Suncrome 3", Akar Prakar, Kolkata in 2007.
"Red Earth and the Pouring Rain", organized by Red Earth Gallery at LANXESS ABS Gallery, Baroda in 2007.
Society of Contemporary Artists, Kolkata in 2007.
"Sensuality", Galleria, New Delhi - 2007.
"Etch and Print", Art and Deal, New Delhi in 2007.
17th Anniversary Group Show, Gallery Ganesha, New Delhi in 2007.
The Indian Art Show 2006, Arushi Art, New Delhi in 2006.
"Tradition in Modernity", Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata in 2006.
"The Tempera Show", Akar Prakar, Kolkata in 2006.
Gallery Sanskriti, Kolkata in 2006.
Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Kolkata in 2006.
The New Space, Dubai in 2006.
"Face to Face", Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata in 2005.
"Sunchrome Exhibition", Kolkata Paper Market, Kolkata in 2005.
Galleria, Mumbai in 2005.
Art and Soul, New Delhi in 2005.
"Call of the Real", organized by Gallery Sanskriti at Colombo in 2004.
"Perspecta", Gallery 88, London in 2002.
"Transection", Gallery 88, London in 2002.
"Contemporary Woman by Modern Indian Artist", Hong Kong in 2000
Exhibition of Graphical Art from Asian Countries, Volkshochschule, Leverkusen, Germany in 1977
Dhaka, Chittagong, Bangladesh in 1973.
Contemporary Indian Prints Exhibition, Poland in 1971.
Contemporary Indian Prints in Kolkata organized by USIS Smithsonian at New Delhi in 1971.
Prints from Asia, USA in 1971.
‘India Alike’, Texas in 1971.
Group 8, New Delhi in 1971.
Expo -70, Touring Exhibition, Japan in 1971.
Society of Contemporary Artists, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi in 1970.
Participations
'Transition', 20th Anniversary Show, Centre of International Modern Art(CIMA), Kolkata - 2013-14
‘Manifestations V', Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi - 2011
'Contemporary Printmaking In India', presented by Priyasri Art Gallery, Mumbai at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai; Priyasri Art Gallery, Mumbai - 2010
'Summer Show 2010', Centre of International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata - 2010
'Manifestations IV', Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi - 2010
'From Everyday To The Imagined: Modern Indian Art', Singapore Art Museum, Singapore and at Museum of Art, Seoul National University, Seoul - 2007-08
‘Indian Miniature Painting’, Hong Kong - 1996
II Biennale, Havana - 1986
‘Indian Print Making Today’, Helsinki, Finland - 1985
‘Indian Print Making Today’, Bonn, Germany - 1985
‘Indian Graphic in Indian Fair’, USA - 1985
2nd Asian Art Biennale, Bangladesh - 1984
Exhibition of Indian Graphic, Havana, Cuba - 1982
3rd World Biennale of Graphic Art, London - 1980
3rd World Biennale of Graphic Art, Baghdad - 1980
2nd Norwegian Prints Biennale, Norway - 1974
4th International Exhibition of Original Drawing, Rajeka, Yugoslavia - 1974
International Exhibition, Berlin - 1976
International Exhibition of Graphic Art, Prechem - 1974
Prime Internagionale Biella, Italy - 1973
Contemporary Indian Prints Exhibition, Germany - 1973
10th Ljubijna Biennale, Yugoslavia - 1973
VII Paris Biennale, Paris - 1971
2nd British Biennale, London - 1971
World Youth Festival Art Exhibition, Prague - 1956
Two Faces of Bengal Modernism GANESH PYNE & LALU PRASAD SHAW, New Delhi - 2016
Show less
Dotwalk Shows
Solo Exhibitions
"Babu and Bibi", Gallery 7, Mumbai in 2017.
"Looking In", Galerie 88, Kolkata in 2011-12.
"Graceful Silence", Art Musings, Mumbai in 2011.
"The Myrid Minded Artist’, Gallery Sanskriti, Kolkata in 2008.
"Sepia Notes", Art Musings, Mumbai in 2007.
"Painting", Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata in 1995.
"Graphic Art", Centre for Contemporary Art, New Delhi in 1990.
"Graphic Art", The Seagull Foundation for Arts, Kolkata in 1990.
"Painting", Dhoomimal Art Centre, New Delhi in 1987.
"Painting", Dhoomimal Art Centre, New Delhi in 1985.
"Graphic Art", Heritage Art Gallery, New Delhi in 1984.
"Graphic", Udipi, Bangalore in 1980.
"Graphic", Sarla Art Gallery, Chennai in 1976.
"Painting", Arts and Prints Gallery, Kolkata in 1967.
"Painting", Art and Industry Gallery, Kolkata in 1965.
Group Exhibitions
"The Sensation of Gestures - IAF Parallel", Gallery Dotwalk, Gurgaon in 2023.
"Mark of Masters -2", Art and soul, Mumbai in 2009.
"Modern Continuous", Galerie 88, Kolkata in 2009.
"Tales, Reflection and Constructs", ITC Windsor, Bangalore in 2008.
"High on Art", Visual Art Gallery, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi in 2007.
"An Evening in Paris....Rome....London", Gallery Sanskriti, Kolkata in 2007.
"Tales, Reflection and Constructs", Galerie 88, Kolkata in 2007.
Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Kolkata in 2007.
"Bengal Chromosome", Artists’ Circle, Kolkata in 2007.
"Linear Configuration", Art and Soul, New Delhi in 2007.
"Suncrome 3", Akar Prakar, Kolkata in 2007.
"Red Earth and the Pouring Rain", organized by Red Earth Gallery at LANXESS ABS Gallery, Baroda in 2007.
Society of Contemporary Artists, Kolkata in 2007.
"Sensuality", Galleria, New Delhi - 2007.
"Etch and Print", Art and Deal, New Delhi in 2007.
17th Anniversary Group Show, Gallery Ganesha, New Delhi in 2007.
The Indian Art Show 2006, Arushi Art, New Delhi in 2006.
"Tradition in Modernity", Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata in 2006.
"The Tempera Show", Akar Prakar, Kolkata in 2006.
Gallery Sanskriti, Kolkata in 2006.
Birla Academy of Art and Culture, Kolkata in 2006.
The New Space, Dubai in 2006.
"Face to Face", Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata in 2005.
"Sunchrome Exhibition", Kolkata Paper Market, Kolkata in 2005.
Galleria, Mumbai in 2005.
Art and Soul, New Delhi in 2005.
"Call of the Real", organized by Gallery Sanskriti at Colombo in 2004.
"Perspecta", Gallery 88, London in 2002.
"Transection", Gallery 88, London in 2002.
"Contemporary Woman by Modern Indian Artist", Hong Kong in 2000
Exhibition of Graphical Art from Asian Countries, Volkshochschule, Leverkusen, Germany in 1977
Dhaka, Chittagong, Bangladesh in 1973.
Contemporary Indian Prints Exhibition, Poland in 1971.
Contemporary Indian Prints in Kolkata organized by USIS Smithsonian at New Delhi in 1971.
Prints from Asia, USA in 1971.
‘India Alike’, Texas in 1971.
Group 8, New Delhi in 1971.
Expo -70, Touring Exhibition, Japan in 1971.
Society of Contemporary Artists, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi in 1970.
Participations
'Transition', 20th Anniversary Show, Centre of International Modern Art(CIMA), Kolkata - 2013-14
‘Manifestations V', Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi - 2011
'Contemporary Printmaking In India', presented by Priyasri Art Gallery, Mumbai at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai; Priyasri Art Gallery, Mumbai - 2010
'Summer Show 2010', Centre of International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata - 2010
'Manifestations IV', Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi - 2010
'From Everyday To The Imagined: Modern Indian Art', Singapore Art Museum, Singapore and at Museum of Art, Seoul National University, Seoul - 2007-08
‘Indian Miniature Painting’, Hong Kong - 1996
II Biennale, Havana - 1986
‘Indian Print Making Today’, Helsinki, Finland - 1985
‘Indian Print Making Today’, Bonn, Germany - 1985
‘Indian Graphic in Indian Fair’, USA - 1985
2nd Asian Art Biennale, Bangladesh - 1984
Exhibition of Indian Graphic, Havana, Cuba - 1982
3rd World Biennale of Graphic Art, London - 1980
3rd World Biennale of Graphic Art, Baghdad - 1980
2nd Norwegian Prints Biennale, Norway - 1974
4th International Exhibition of Original Drawing, Rajeka, Yugoslavia - 1974
International Exhibition, Berlin - 1976
International Exhibition of Graphic Art, Prechem - 1974
Prime Internagionale Biella, Italy - 1973
Contemporary Indian Prints Exhibition, Germany - 1973
10th Ljubijna Biennale, Yugoslavia - 1973
VII Paris Biennale, Paris - 1971
2nd British Biennale, London - 1971
World Youth Festival Art Exhibition, Prague - 1956
Two Faces of Bengal Modernism GANESH PYNE & LALU PRASAD SHAW, New Delhi - 2016
