Venkat Singh Shyam

From a young boy learning a traditional art from his uncle to a globally recognized artist Venkat Raman Singh Shyam’s journey has been of perseverance and a complete dedication to art. Born in Sijhora village in Madhya Pradesh, Venkat is a second-generation Pardhan Gond artist. He started learning this art form at the age of 13 under the guidance of his uncle Jangarh Singh Shyam, also a celebrated artist and founder of the Jangarh Kalam style of painting.

In the initial years Venkatji worked as a rickshaw puller, domestic help and even signboard painter - to support his artistic career. His grit and determination has now transformed into an illustrious career spanning more than four decades. Venkat’s oeuvre represents the blend of tradition,modernity and his own artistic individuality.

A multidisciplinary artist,Venkat has developed his own style. Even as an apprentice, Venkat Singh Shyam didn’t follow the traditional themes of nature and community life and drifted towards images of deities revered by the Pardhan community. His experimentations with mediums and compositions continue till today. Through his artistic journey of three decades, Venkat has integrated both modern and traditional stylistic influences in his work. Like his uncle, Venkat has developed his own style and does not shy away from using different types of mediums. Some of his best works have been made using inks and acrylics deviating from the use of natural pigments as per the traditional practice.

Shyam has made his career not only as an artist but has also co-authored autobiographies with S. Anand - Finding My Way and the Ganja-Mahua chronicles. His works have been showcased globally and he has also received many awards. He also collaborated with Tara Douglas on an animated film based on a Gond folktale, which won the Tallest Story Competition Trophy at the Inverness Film Festival in Scotland in 2007.