Sanjay Punekar | Artist at Mondoir

Nationality: Indian

Discipline: painting

Based in: faridabad, India

Biography

Born in January 1979 in the quiet village of Rui, Indapur (Pune, Maharashtra), Sanjay Punekar’s artistic sensibility was shaped by an environment where nature, tradition, and spirituality coexisted in perfect balance. Raised in a farmer’s family amidst the Sahyadri hills, his early life nurtured a deep sensitivity to natural rhythm, texture, and silence—elements that later became central to his visual language. Formally trained at Abhinav Kala Mahavidyalaya, Pune (Government Diploma in Fine Art, 2003; Diploma in Art Education, 2004), Sanjay later moved to New Delhi, where his career evolved through numerous solo and group exhibitions. His works entered significant public and private collections, affirming sustained curatorial and collector interest. Influenced by nature, meditation, dreams, and Indian spiritual traditions, Sanjay’s paintings offer contemplative depth and refined abstraction. Rooted in authenticity yet resonating globally, his art represents a thoughtful, enduring presence for discerning collectors.

Artist Statement

My art practice is a quiet dialogue between nature, inner consciousness, and lived experience. Having grown up in a rural landscape surrounded by fields, hills, and sacred spaces, I developed an early sensitivity to natural rhythms and silence. These formative impressions continue to guide my visual language, even as my work evolves within a contemporary context. I am deeply influenced by nature, meditation, dreams, and Indian spiritual traditions. Painting, for me, is a meditative act—an inward journey where observation transforms into contemplation. I do not attempt to depict nature realistically; instead, I seek to translate its energy, movement, and spiritual vibration into abstract and semi-abstract forms. My process is intuitive and layered. I begin without rigid plans, allowing forms, textures, and colors to emerge organically. Through repeated layering, erasure, and reconstruction, the surface of the canvas develops a sense of time and depth. Each layer holds memory—of land, emotion, and thought—creating a balance between spontaneity and control. Color plays a vital role in my work. I use it not merely for visual impact, but as an emotional and spiritual medium. Earth tones, luminous hues, and subtle contrasts help me evoke stillness, harmony, and inner movement. Texture becomes a tactile expression of experience, inviting the viewer to pause and engage beyond the surface. Ultimately, my paintings are not meant to offer fixed meanings. They are spaces for reflection—open, silent, and receptive. I hope viewers experience a sense of calm, connection, and timelessness, and find their own narratives within the work. My practice remains rooted in authenticity, shaped by tradition, and guided by an ongoing search for balance between the outer world and the inner self.

Exhibitions

Solo Exhibitions Huntenkunst Art Fair 2026, SSP Hal, Ulft, Netherlands (Selected Artist) “Cosmos in Flowers”, Estate on Perekopskaya, Russia, 2025 Lalit Kala Academy, National Academy of Art, Delhi, 2023 Visual Art Gallery, Delhi, 2012 Taj Palace, New Delhi, 2010 Malaka Spice, Pune, 2010 Leela Hotel, Mumbai, 2010 Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), Delhi, 2010 India Habitat Centre, Delhi, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2015 Art Hut Art Gallery, Pune, 2007 Artmart, Epicenter, Gurgaon, 2009 Group Exhibitions Jahangir Art Gallery, Mumbai, 2011 Redtree Art Gallery, Cincinnati, USA, 2012 India Habitat Centre, Delhi, 2007–2014, 2017, 2023 India International Trade Fair, Delhi, 2025 Mystiq Art Gallery, Delhi, 2007–2010 All India Art & Craft Society, New Delhi, 2009 Renaissance Gallery, Bangalore, 2009 The Ashoka Gallery, Delhi, 2008

Awards

Awards & Honors Brown Ribbon Art Festival, Sadguru “Save Soil” Painting – Cash Prize, Delhi NCR, 2022 Brown Ribbon Art Festival 4.0, Category A, organised by Sadguru Foundation, Sarvodaya Hospital & Manav Rachna School, Faridabad, Delhi NCR Lalit Kala Academy, Delhi – Selected Artist, Community Garhi Studio, 2017–2018 Global Fine Art Teacher Award, India, 2018 Hindustan Times Award, Delhi – ₹40,000 Cash Prize, 2007 Alliance Française de Poona (Indo-French Cultural Centre), 2003 Avantika International Art Exhibition, Delhi, 2002 Nehru Bal Samiti Award, New Delhi, 2008