The Neekoee Foundation is currently presenting a solo exhibition of recent works by veteran contemporary artist Amit Ambalal at the Urmila Kailash Black Box, located opposite Gujarat University in Navrangpura, Ahmedabad. The exhibition opened on November 13 and runs through November 15, 2025, with viewing hours from 4 pm to 8 pm daily. An opening ceremony was held on Wednesday, November 12, at 5 pm.
About the Artist
Amit Ambalal, born in 1943 in Ahmedabad, represents a significant voice in contemporary Indian art. After graduating in commerce and law, he managed his family’s textile business for over three decades before making a decisive career shift. In 1979, at the age of 36, Ambalal abandoned the family business entirely to pursue his childhood passion for painting. He trained privately under veteran artist Chhaganlal Jadhav and has since developed a distinctive visual language that blends wit, irony, and theatrical sensibility.
“Animals are beautiful people!” says Amitbhai. When you stand before his work, you understand exactly what he means. His paintings breathe. They laugh, tease, question, and mirror the world around us with a kind of mischievous honesty. Every brushstroke as if life itself has been caught mid-laughter. Beneath the humour lies a quiet wisdom, a satire on the absurdities of our everyday lives. An ace storyteller, each work of his is a conversation, one that changes every time you return to it. He lives the way he paints, blurring the lines between truth and illusion, keeping you guessing, smiling, and reflecting.”
Writes Neena Naishadh.
Artistic Approach and Practice
Ambalal’s work is characterized by its satirical approach to storytelling, with paintings that are described as conversational—changing meaning with each viewing. His practice spans multiple mediums including watercolor, gouache, dry pastels, and papier-mâché. The artist is known for drawing inspiration from everyday life, mythology, and history, infusing his compositions with unexpected details and humorous narratives.
A notable aspect of his artistic philosophy involves animals and their anatomical diversity. According to Ambalal, the study of animal forms provides greater scope for exploring color variation and experimentation, creating a bridge toward abstraction. His color palette is often non-naturalistic, and his perspective frequently employs an aerial viewpoint influenced by his extensive study of Nathdwara pichwai paintings.
Throughout his career, Ambalal has received significant institutional recognition. He was awarded the Gujarat State Lalit Kala Akademi Award in 1968 and the Civitella Ranieri Foundation Fellowship in Italy in 2003. His first solo exhibition was held in 1980, followed by numerous exhibitions at prestigious galleries including Gallery Espace in New Delhi, Archer Art Gallery in Ahmedabad, and international venues in Singapore, Amsterdam, and Sydney.
Beyond studio practice, Ambalal co-founded the Contemporary Painters Group in Ahmedabad in the late 1970s and has contributed to major institutional bodies such as Bharat Bhavan, NIFT Gandhinagar, and the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi. In 1991, Doordarshan (India’s national broadcaster) produced a seminal documentary titled Chitrakar Amit Ambalal, chronicling his artistic journey. He has also authored a scholarly book, Krishna as Shrinathji: Rajasthani Paintings from Nathdwara, published in 1987.
Athmaja Biju is the Editor at Abir Pothi. She is a Translator and Writer working on Visual Culture.
