Srihari Bholekar was born in Bollakpalli.
Bholekar hails from a small village called Bollakpalli, on the banks of river Manjeera which is 5 kilometers away from Banswada in the Kamareddy district of Telangana State in India. He belongs to Patlolla family where he is also known as Patlolla Srihari. He got his name Bholekar when it was recorded by marathi based institutions where he initially studied. This is due to the practice of the people of Maharashtra of adding the '-Kar' suffix to one's village/community and keeping it as a surname.
Bholekar, a painter, sculptor, muralist and printmaker, obtained his diploma in drawing and painting from Sir J.J. School of Art, Mumbai, completed Diploma in Painting in 1961 and since then continued painting, winning several awards, participating several state and national exhibitions, and organising art activities. He is also a graduate of Osmania University.
As he was born and brought up in rural Telangana in India he sets his paintings of rural life in a modern style by powerful imageries with an unusual and unique background setup, most of his subjects portray not only the rural life of Telangana and its culture, customs, traditions, difficulties, plights, misfortunes and predicaments but also abstracts and international level art-works.
He produced excellent, amazing, and surprising artworks throughout his professional career. He has impressed greatly the world with his discernment for creativity and composition.
The Art of Bholekar brings the significant emotional, cultural and cognitive evaluations of nature of life.
Career and style
Born in 1941 Srihari graduated from Osmania University and obtained his diploma in Drawing and Painting from Sir J.J.School of Arts Bombay and specialized in Mural techniques at New Delhi. He has participated in several group and one man shows in Portugal, Italy, Macedonia, Poland, Germany, New Delhi, Chandigarh, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bangalore Chennai, Bhopal, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Amritsar, Raipur, Baroda and taken part in Art Conference National Academy of Fine Arts, International Arts Conference Lalit Kala Academy 3rd Triennale, New Delhi, World Telugu Conference and Artiste Conference, A.P. State Lalit Kala Academy Hyderabad.
He has been awarded Gold Medal by the All India Exhibition Hyderabad Art Society, All India Exhibition Mahakoshal Kala Parishad Raipur, Silver Medal by Sir J.J.School of Arts, Bombay, All India Art Exhibition Ferozpur, Senior Fellowship Visual Art Graphics, Ministry of Culture, Govt. of India National Academy Award Lalit Kala Academy and has been honored as 'Veteran Artist' of India New Delhi. He has received numerous awards like the Eminent Artist Award, Millennium Award, and many more. He was working as the Chief Artist at Indian Air Force at Begumpet and in 1996 he was Honoured with Commendation by A.O.C - in – C.H.Q.T.C Indian Air Force,
He has won numerous awards some of which are:
National Academy Award Conferred by Lalit Kala Academi, New Delhi,Gold Medal All India Exhibition Hyderabad Art Society,Gold Medal All India Exhibition, Maha Koshal Kala Parishath, Raipur,Senior Fellowship Visual Art Graphics, Government of India, Ministry of Culture, New DelhiMillennium Award - All India Fine Arts & Crafts Society, New Delhi - 2000.SCZCC Award - All India Art Exhibition, Nagpur.India Academy of Fine Arts Award, Amritsar.Artists Workshop Award, Administrative Staff College of India, Hyderabad.MKKP Award - All India Art Exhibition, Raipur.All India Art Exhibition Award, Ferozpur.Karnataka Chitrakala Parishad Award, Bangalore.AP Cyclone and Tidal Wave Exhibition Award, Hyderabad. Miniature Biennale Award.Hyderabad Art Society Awards, Hyderabad - 1964,1974, 1975.Chitrakala Samsad Award, AP State Art Exhibition, Machilipatnam.Bharath Kala Parishad Awards, Hyderabad - 1979,1985,1988,1990.Vishakapatham Chitrakala Parishad Award.All India Contemporary Miniature Biennale Award - 1975.Youth Cultural Festival Award, Hyderabad.Endowment Prize, Government of Maharashtra.Mural Decoration Prize, Sir JJ School of Arts, Mumbai.An exhibit with title "Known and Unknown" got Bholekar the National Award which was conferred in the year 2004 by Lalit Kala Academy(National Academy of Art) an autonomous organisation of Government of India, Ministry of Tourism & Culture.
Honoured as one of the Veteran Artist of India, New Delhi - 2003Honoured with Commendation by A.O.C - in – C.H.Q.T.C Indian Air Force - 1996Honoured as Eminent Artist by Government of AP - 2012Honoured as Eminent Artist by Maharashtra Mandal - 1988Honoured as Eminent Artist by Government of AP - 1981National Graphic Art Camp - Baroda - 2008Sculptors Camp "Full Circle" Organised by KSK Energy, Hyderabad - 2007Painters Camp at Ravindra Bharathi, Hyderabad - 2007Painters Camp at Hyderabad Art Society - 2005Functional Culture Camp Organized by National Lalit Kala Akademi at Grahi Studios, New Delhi - 1978Painters Camp "Hampi", Karnataka - 1975Artist Camp at Kala Bhavan, Hyderabad - 1975Srihari Bholekar has participated in both national and international exhibitions, and has had numerous one man shows:
Solo Exhibitions
2015 The exhibition titled ‘The Unknown’ of pen and ink drawings at Dhi Artspace, Hyderabad 2000 An Exhibition at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai.2000 An Exhibition at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai.1977 The Graphics Prints Exhibition Organised by Alliance Franchise, Bangalore1973 Mural Paintings at Kala Bhavan, Hyderabad1968 Exhibition of Paintings at Kala Bhavan, Hyderabad1966 Hyderabad Art Society1965 Ravindra Bharathi1964 Ajantha Pavilion Public Gardens, HyderabadGroup Exhibitions
1966, 69, 78, 85, 86 and 2004 National Exhibition of Art, Lalitha Academy (Painting, Sculpture & Graphics), New Delhi1974, 76, 85, 2004 Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata1985 Arts Society of India, MumbaiKarnataka Chitrakala Parishad, BangaloreBombay Art Society, Mumbai4th & 6th International Engraving Bienniale of Douro, Alijo, Portugal-2007 & 2012.International Biennale of Graphics Art, Engraving Acqui Terme, Italy -2007International Triennial of Graphics Art, Bitola, Macedonia - 2006The Iowa Biennale International Exhibition of Contemporary Miniature prints, U.S.A. - 2006VII International Art Triennial Sztuki, Mjdanek, Poland - 2004International Exhibition of Graphic Art, Bharat Bhawan, Bhopal, India - 2001 to 2004Contemporary Indian Painting Exhibition Kunststation, Klieisnsasses Art Gallery, Fulda, Germany - 2001National Exhibition of Art, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi - 1966, 1969, 1978, 1985, 1986, and 2004 ( Painting, Sculpture & Graphic)Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata 1974-76, 1985, 2004Art Society of India, Mumbai - 1985Karnataka Chitrakala parishad, Bangalore - 1985Bombay Arts Society, Mumbai - 2000Punjab State Lalit Kala Academy, Chandigarh - 1985Lalit Kala Academy Regional Centre, Chennai - 2004Bharat Bhavan Biennale of Contemporary Indian Art Bhopal-1986Other Exhibitions at New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Amritsar, Raipur, Bhopal, Chennai, Bangalore, and Baroda.Art Conference National Academy of Fine Arts New Delhi - 1973International Artist conference Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi during Third Triennale, India - 1975Artist Conference held at AP Lalit Kala Akademi, Hyderabad - 1976World Telugu Conference, Hyderabad - 1975Contemporary Engraving Museum, Duro, Alijo, Portugal.Museum of Engraving - Costello Dei Paleologi in Acqui Terme, Italy.Pantswowe State Museum of Modern Art Majadanesk Lublin, Poland.International Research Archives of Contemporary Miniature Prints, University of IOWA, USA.Salarjung Museum, Hyderabad, Telangana.Contemporary Art Museum, Public Gardens, Hyderabad.Museum of Telugu Culture through Ages, Hyderabad.Cyclone and Tidal Wave Art Museum, Avani Gadda, APWIPRO Technologies, Madhapur, Hyderabad.Krishna Oberoi, Banjara Hills, HyderabadNational Lalit Kala Academy, Rabindra Bhavan, New Delhi.ABN Contemporary Art Gallery, Santacruz, Mumbai.Alliance Franciase Indo French Cultural Centre, Bangalore.AP Lalit Kala Akademy.Kunika Chemould Art Centre, New Delhi.Guild Art Gallery, Colaba, Mumbai.Raj Bhavan, Ahmedabad.Sculptors Forum of India, New Delhi.Other collections in India, Canada and France.Chief Artist - Air Force Station, Begumpet, Hyderabad, 1963 - 2000.Art Master - Hyderabad Public School, Begumpet, Hyderabad, 1961 - 1962.Honorary Secretary - The Hyderabad Art Society.Jury - World Telugu Conference Art Exhibition, Hyderabad - 1975