GAURI PARIHAR at 18:15, 31 March 2026

2026-03-31T18:15:45Z

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{{Use British English|date=November 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox artist
| name = Srihari Bholekar
| Born =
| image = BHOLEKAR.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Srihari Bholekar in 2014
| birth_name = Srihari Bollakpalli
| birth_date = 1 January 1941
| birth_place = Bollakpalli, [[Banswada]], [[Telangana]], India
| death_date = 23 August 2018
| death_place = [[Hyderabad]], India
| education = 1961 Diploma in Drawing and Painting from Sir J.J School of Arts, Bombay
1969 B.A from [[Osmania University]]
| field = Painting, sculpture, print-making, murals
| training =
| movement = 1969
| patrons =
| awards = National Award (Lalit Kala Akademi Award)
| spouse = Laxmi Bholekar
| url =
}}

'''Srihari Bholekar''' (1 January 1941 – 23 August 2018) was a painter, sculptor and [[printmaker]] from [[Telangana]], India.

==Early life==
Bholekar was born in Bollakpalli. He obtained his diploma in drawing and painting from the [[Sir Jamsetjee Jeejebhoy School of Art|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 was also a graduate from Osmania University.

He 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 took 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.subcontinentart.com/ArtistProfile.aspx?StoreVendorId=262|title=Profile of an artist|access-date=17 February 2018|archive-date=20 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920235039/http://www.subcontinentart.com/ArtistProfile.aspx?StoreVendorId=262|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Bholekar came 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 belonged to the Patlolla family where he was 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.

As he was born and brought up in Telangana in India he set his paintings of rural life in a modern style. Most of his subjects portray the life of Telangana and its culture, customs, traditions, difficulties, plights, misfortunes and predicaments.

The Art of Bholekar brings the significant emotional, cultural and cognitive evaluations of nature of life.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.subcontinentart.com/BholekarSrihari.aspx?AP|title=SubContinentArt – Artist Profile|website=Subcontinentart.com|access-date=2 February 2018|archive-date=18 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218104623/http://www.subcontinentart.com/BholekarSrihari.aspx?AP|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kleinsassen.de/gal-kain/kai091.php?drucken=drucken|title=Bholekar Srihari – Kunststation Kleinsassen|author=Peter Klingebiel|website=Kleinsassen.de|access-date=2 February 2018}}</ref>'

Bholekar died on August 23, 2018.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/lifestyle/books-and-art/240818/pride-of-telugus-srihari-a-great-loss-to-art-world.html|title=A great loss to art world|website=Deccan Chronicle}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.navatelangana.com/article/sopathi/708985|title=శ్రీహరి ఇకలేరు కానీ...|work=Navatelangana a Telugu Daily}}</ref>

==Career and style==
He worked 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,<ref name="subcontinentart">{{cite web|url=http://www.subcontinentart.com/BholekarSrihari.aspx?AP|title=SubContinentArt – Artist Profile|website=Subcontinentart.com|access-date=2014-11-29|archive-date=18 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200218104623/http://www.subcontinentart.com/BholekarSrihari.aspx?AP|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Bholekar attributed his free-spirited nature to the village life he grew up in. “Till 10 years I enjoyed the village life. Art has not developed because of it but its influence is still there. The energy, the process and boldness in my works comes from village atmosphere. I had come through so many situations in early life; not hardships, but I enjoyed my life as a child. My parents did not allow me to go and play in the jungle”.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-metroplus/joy-of-the-unknown/article7930883.ece|title=Bholekar's drawings with magnetic appeal}}</ref>

A specialist in mural paintings, Bholekar has the distinction of holding the first contemporary one-man show in [[Salar Jung Museum]] in 1963. “I was just 21 and had exhibited my works,” . The exhibits made the art lovers sit up and take notice of the young artist. “The modern paintings were bold and not decorative. The theme was my village and my imagination of the village,” <ref name=":0" />

His works travelled far and wide and made a name for him in the international arena. He also worked as a chief artist in Begumpet airport and worked vigorously in the world of art for 18 years before walking away from it. “I stopped everything and wanted to be a simple man without any artistic attachments,” he said, "Was it easy to stay away from art? “I have a strong will power. I stopped drinking and smoking at the age of 35 because of willpower. I am born with art instinct and returned to printmaking”.<ref name=":0" />

Bholekar's art encompasses many different media. After making a mark in print media, he gravitated to ink drawings. “Here artists do not interact much with artists of other countries. Their works are simple as they do not experiment. Their subject is same and as a result, they get stagnated. I don’t want to be like that”, “My drawings will continue for some time and then I will shift to another media.”<ref name=":0" />

“One can enjoy the design sense and interpret the work in one’s own way. My abstract drawing is like music. One need not know the intricacies of laya and raga but its rhythm is appreciated. Likewise, art lovers can enjoy the rhythmic lines and its composition and it is aesthetic too”.<ref name=":0" />

==Awards==

* 2004 National Award - Govt. of India - [[Lalit Kala Akademi]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://magazine.telangana.gov.in/%E0%B0%A4%E0%B1%86%E0%B0%B2%E0%B0%BF%E0%B0%B8%E0%B1%80-%E0%B0%A4%E0%B1%86%E0%B0%B2%E0%B0%BF%E0%B0%AF%E0%B0%A8%E0%B0%BF-%E0%B0%9A%E0%B1%82%E0%B0%B8%E0%B1%80-%E0%B0%9A%E0%B1%82%E0%B0%A1%E0%B0%A8/|title=తెలిసీ తెలియని, చూసీ చూడని రూపాలు|work=Telangana Monthly}}</ref>
*2005-07 Senior Fellowship Visual Art Graphics, [[Government of India]], Ministry of Culture, New Delhi
*2003 Honoured as one of the Veteran Artist of India, New Delhi
*1996 Honoured with Commendation by A.O.C - in – C.H.Q.T.C Indian Air Force
*1988 Gold Medal All India Exhibition, Maha Koshal Kala Parishath, Raipur<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.subcontinentart.com/ArtistProfile.aspx?StoreVendorId=262%60|title=welcome to ART GALLERY|website=www.subcontinentart.com|access-date=2018-03-14}}{{Dead link|date=January 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref>
*1988 Honoured as Eminent Artist by Maharastra Mandal (A.P), Hyderabad
*1977 Gold Medal All India Exhibition Hyderabad Art Society

==Exhibitions==
'''Solo Exhibitions'''

2000 An Exhibition at [[Jehangir Art Gallery]], Mumbai.

1977 The Graphics Prints Exhibition Organised by Alliance Franchise, Bangalore

1973 Mural Paintings at Kala Bhavan, Hyderabad

1968 Exhibition of Paintings at Kala Bhavan, Hyderabad

1966 Hyderabad Art Society

1965 [[Ravindra Bharathi]]

1964 Ajantha Pavilion Public Gardens, Hyderabad

'''Group Exhibitions'''

1966, 69, 78, 85, 86 and 2004 National Exhibition of Art, Lalitha Academy (Painting, Sculpture & Graphics), New Delhi

1974, 76, 85, 2004 Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata

1985 Arts Society of India, Mumbai

Karnataka Chitrakala Parishad, Bangalore

[[Bombay Art Society]], Mumbai

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{cite web|url=http://www.artattelangana.org/artistDetails.php?PARId=PAR86|title=Artist Page | Art@Telangana|publisher=Artattelangana.org|access-date=2014-11-29|archive-date=16 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210516184321/http://artattelangana.org/artistDetails.php?PARId=PAR86|url-status=dead}}
*{{cite web|url=http://www.artbuzz.org/painters.html|title=Art Buzz – emerging and mid-career Fine Art Artist Painters|publisher=Artbuzz.org|access-date=2014-11-29|archive-date=3 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180203064218/http://www.artbuzz.org/painters.html|url-status=dead}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Srihari, Bholekar}}
[[Category:Indian male painters]]
[[Category:2018 deaths]]
[[Category:Osmania University alumni]]
[[Category:People from Nizamabad district]]
[[Category:1941 births]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian painters]]
[[Category:Painters from Telangana]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male artists]]

Bholekar Srihari - Revision history

GAURI PARIHAR at 18:15, 31 March 2026