PAI, LAXMAN (1926-2021)

**PRICE ON APPLICATION**
 
“Mountain Profile” (1965)
Oil on canvas
56 x 38cm
Signed lower right
*private collection, Sydney
 
Laxman was an award-winning Indian Modernist and member of the influential Bombay Progressive Artists’ Group. In the 1940s, Pai was actively involved in the Goa liberation movement for which he was arrested thrice by the Portuguese colonials. He was beaten by the Portuguese police after being arrested and for this reason, his parents sent him to the city of Bombay where he studied at the Sir J. J. School of Art in Mumbai from 1943 to 1947. He was awarded the Mayo Medal in 1947. Pai started teaching at the Sir J. J. School of Art. At the same time, he participated in the activities of the Bombay Progressive Artists' Group, Pai went to Paris & studied fresco and etching there. He studied at the prestigious École des Beaux-Arts and stayed in Paris for ten years. During his stay in Paris, Pai held ten solo exhibitions in the city. He had to his credit more than 110 one-man shows across the globe. His solo exhibitions were held at London, Munich, Hanover, Stuttgart, New York City, Bremen, San Francisco, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Goa and São Paulo. Pai learnt rosenthal porcelain art in Germany. He also participated in numerous Biennials in Paris, Tokyo, Sao Paulo. He was awarded India's third highest civilian honour, Padma Bhushan, for his contributions to Indian Fine Art.