G.R. IRANNA

Born: 1970

G.R. Iranna - Paintings

Biography

G.R. Iranna is a contemporary Indian artist born in Sindgi District Bijapur in Karnataka in 1970. Known for his quasi-abstract works, Iranna endeavours to translate an internal landscape onto tactile surfaces - showing in his work evolved appreciation of religious poetry, myth and spiritual quest.

During his youth, Iranna studied in a Gurukul, where he lived with his guru (teacher) in an ashram for almost seven years. This experience helped him form a strong connection to his cultural roots and centre his works on the inherent dualities of the world that he later explored in his works. He completed his Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the College of Visual Arts in Gulbarga in 1992 and acquired his Master's degree in painting from the College of Art, New Delhi two years later in 1994.

G.R. IRANNA - Artworks

Although he began painting oil on canvases at the start of his career, Iranna later developed his range of mediums: including gouache and ceramic, before embarking on his now primary use of tarpaulin.

He did his first show in 1992 at the College of Visual Art, Gulbarga and was later the artist-inresidence at Wimbledon School of Art, London between 1999 and 2000. Since then, he was featured in numerous shows extensively, both locally and internationally. He also participated in a myriad of group shows and curated exhibitions through the years, most recently, Indian Blue: Fro Realism to Abstraction at DAG in New Delhi in 2021. 

Keen on reinvention, his shift in style and medium observed in his current works are symbolic and characteristic of an artist constantly evolving with the time, breaking away from his own mould and reforming his works to capture the zeitgeist of the times. While there's still a repetition of motifs that can be perceived in his canvases, especially the figures which appeared in his earlier works, it is now less figurative and leaning more towards the form.  

The artist has had at least 16 solo shows and over 50 group shows through the years, including the 58th Venice Biennale - May You Live In Interesting Times in 2019. Notable shows from recent years include The Primordial Ash, Aicon Gallery, New York (2017); Ether is all that is, Gallery Espace New Delhi (2017); And the last shall be the first: GR Iranna, Works 1995-2015 in the National Gallery of Modern Art Bengaluru (2016); Tempered Branches, AICON Gallery, New York (2014); Limning Heterotopias: A Journey into G.R. Iranna's Shadows of the InBetween, Gallery Espace, New Delhi (2012); Thought of the day, Kashi Art Gallery, Kochi (2012); Scaffolding the Absent, The Guild Art Gallery, Mumbai (2011); and the Ribbed Routes, The Guild Art Gallery, Mumbai (2010).

His work is part of the collections at the National Gallery of Modern Art, New Delhi; Bharat Bhawan, Bhopal, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi; and the Singapore Art Museum among others.

He has received major accolades and recognition throughout his career, including those at the All India Exhibition in Mysore and the College of Visual Art, New Delhi in 1992; from the Bansi Parmimu Memorial Committee, New Delhi and the Delhi College of Art in 1993. In the same year, he won the MF Husain and Ram Kumar selection award at `In Search of Talent` by Vadhera Art Gallery, New Delhi. He has also been honoured in 1997 with a National Award from the Lalit Kala Academy and the AIFACS Award, at the show '50 years of Art in Independent India` in New Delhi. Most recently, he received the ABPF Foundation, Signature Art Prize, Singapore Art Museum Jury Award in 2008.

The artist lives and works in New Delhi, India.

G.R. IRANNA - Artworks

Awards

  • 4th All India Exhibition, South Central Zone Cultural Centre (SCZCC), Nagpur, 1990
  • All India Exhibition Mysore, Dasara, Mysore, 1991-92
  • College of Visual Art, Gulbarga, 1991-92
  • Delhi College of Art, New Delhi, 1993
  • Bansi Parmimu Memorial Committee, New Delhi, 1993
  • ‘In Search of Talent’, MF Hussain and Ram Kumar Selection Award, Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi, 1993
  • Residency, International Painting and Sculpture Symposium, Gulbarga, 1993
  • Garhi Research Grant, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, 1995-96
  • National Scholarship, Ministry of HRD, Government of India, 1996-97
  • 50 Years of Art in Independent India’, All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society Award, New Delhi, 1997
  • 40th National Academy Award, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, 1997
  • Residency, 9th Triennale India 1997 International Artists’ Camp, Lalit Kala Akademi, New Delhi, 1997
  • International Scholarship, Charles Wallace India Trust, British Council, 1999-2000
  • State Award, Karnataka Lalit Kala Academy, Bangalore, 2001
  • KK Hebbar Foundation Award, 2002
  • Residency, George Keyt Foundation, Dambola, Sri Lanka, 2003
  • Harmony Show, Artist of the Year Award, Mumbai, 2004

Books

  • The Dancer on the Horse: Reflections on the Art of Iranna GR
  • Shadows of the Real Iranna G.R.
  • And the Last Shall be the First: G.R. Iranna, Works 1995-2015
  • Iranna G R: Selected Works ; 1996 - 1998
G.R. IRANNA - Artworks

Top 10 Auction Records

Title Price Realized
Lessen for Blindness USD 181,125
Untitled USD 86,825
Untitled USD 80,500
The Retired King USD 75,325
Untitled USD 73,337
Untitled USD 69,000
Untitled USD 64,400
Prayer USD 63,825
Untitled USD 51,175
Untitled USD 50,600