the goan I network
PANAJI
Renowned Goan artist and painter Laxman Pai was on Thursday chosen for the prestigious Padma Bhushan, the nation’s third-highest civilian award, adding yet another recognition to his glittering career.
He is recipient of three Lalit Kala national awards (1961, 1963 & 1972) and was awarded the prestigious Padma Shri by the Central government in 1985. He was honored by State government in 1987 and also awarded the Nehru award in 1995. Pai was also the recipient of Goa’s highest civilian award Gomant Vibhushan Award (2016). Laxman Pai was principal of college of art in Goa from 1977-87.
Born in January 21, 1926, in Margao, Pai began his art at his uncle’s Mauzo Photo Stuido in Margao, where he used to touch up the black and white photographs with paint.
Actively involved in the liberation movement, Pai was arrested thrice by the Portuguese. Pai received his art education in Sir J J School of Art in Mumbai (1943-47), where he was awarded the prestigious Mayo medal.
He has more than one hundred solo exhibitions to his
credit including nine in Paris, where he worked for ten years (1951-61). His other exhibitions have been held in London, Munich, Stuttgart, Bremen, New York, San Francisco, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, New Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta and Goa.
His paintings are in various private & public collections, including, Museum of Modern art “ Paris, New York Public Library, Berlin Museum, Ben & Abbey Grey Foundation (Los Angeles), National Gallery of Modern Art “ New Delhi, Punjab, Madras & Nagpur.
