The renowned Indian Artist Paresh Maity became the first recipient of the Editor’s Award at a glittering ceremony celebrating the Eastern Eye Arts, Culture and Theater Awards (ACTAS). Congratulations Paresh! It’s an honor well deserved. The Eastern Eye ACTAs recognize the very best of British South-Asian talent.
I’m proud to say the Stellar International Art Foundation, which was founded by the Choudhrie Family, was one of the first patrons of Paresh Maity. It commissioned him to make early watercolors of their vintage cars after meeting him over his very first exhibition in New Delhi in the 1990s. From this period, the Foundation has taken ownership of much of his oeuvre, including his largest series of watercolors, 57 pieces of Venice.
My mother, Anita Choudhrie, founder of the Stellar International Art Foundation, commented: "Paresh is a man who believes in humanity first and this ACTA award is a testament to that humanist ideal that inspires everything he does. It goes without saying that this shows through in his creativity of colors and ingenuity on canvas. Paresh's spontaneity and imagination are vast and unique, and no doubt have helped him win professional and complimentary accolades across India and now internationally."
British actor and film-maker Hamza Jeetooa presented the special ACTA award to Paresh, which recognized him for his achievements as an global artist and his profound contributions to the art community. Hamza said: "Paresh Maity is one of the leading contemporary artists of his time and is regarded as India’s leading water color painter – from a humble background not far from Kolkata, he was initially self-taught but slowly began to establish a strong reputation. His water and boats series brought him to the attention of the art community in India and since then he has gone onto become one of India’s most important painters."
In response, Paresh said that art represented a way of exploring the borders between cultures through color, celebrating the many facets of life from different perspectives. “Winning this award is an incredible experience. I have always been inspired by our world of colors,’ he said. “My travels, which have taken me to many new countries, form an integral part of my life and my art. Our world is diverse and we need to celebrate that diversity – the way our individual and social lives intersect and bring vibrancy to the world.”
Paresh has long been for his vibrant, colorful paintings that have been displayed across the world and in some of the most prestigious private and public collections. These include the British Museum, the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi, and the Vatican Embassy in New Delhi.
Paresh’s other accolades include the All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society Award for Best Watercolor painting, the Award for Outstanding Painting from Birla Academy of Art and Culture, the British Council Visitorship Award, Royal Watercolor Society Award the Dayawati Modi Award for Art, Culture and Education and most recently the Padmai Shri Award from the Government of India.
Stellar International Art Foundation was established in 2008 and took as its basis the private collection of the Choudhrie family. The Foundation comprises over 600 works by an array of Indian and Western Contemporary artists ranging from painting to sculpture. The collection began in the 1970s when the Choudhrie family began to purchase works of art. This led to relationships with some of India’s most important contemporary artists including M F Husain, Paresh Maity and Jayasri Burman. The Foundation seeks to promote artists within the collection through international exhibition, loans, publications and events.
I’m proud to say the Stellar International Art Foundation, which was founded by the Choudhrie Family, was one of the first patrons of Paresh Maity. It commissioned him to make early watercolors of their vintage cars after meeting him over his very first exhibition in New Delhi in the 1990s. From this period, the Foundation has taken ownership of much of his oeuvre, including his largest series of watercolors, 57 pieces of Venice.
My mother, Anita Choudhrie, founder of the Stellar International Art Foundation, commented: "Paresh is a man who believes in humanity first and this ACTA award is a testament to that humanist ideal that inspires everything he does. It goes without saying that this shows through in his creativity of colors and ingenuity on canvas. Paresh's spontaneity and imagination are vast and unique, and no doubt have helped him win professional and complimentary accolades across India and now internationally."
British actor and film-maker Hamza Jeetooa presented the special ACTA award to Paresh, which recognized him for his achievements as an global artist and his profound contributions to the art community. Hamza said: "Paresh Maity is one of the leading contemporary artists of his time and is regarded as India’s leading water color painter – from a humble background not far from Kolkata, he was initially self-taught but slowly began to establish a strong reputation. His water and boats series brought him to the attention of the art community in India and since then he has gone onto become one of India’s most important painters."
In response, Paresh said that art represented a way of exploring the borders between cultures through color, celebrating the many facets of life from different perspectives. “Winning this award is an incredible experience. I have always been inspired by our world of colors,’ he said. “My travels, which have taken me to many new countries, form an integral part of my life and my art. Our world is diverse and we need to celebrate that diversity – the way our individual and social lives intersect and bring vibrancy to the world.”
Paresh has long been for his vibrant, colorful paintings that have been displayed across the world and in some of the most prestigious private and public collections. These include the British Museum, the National Gallery of Modern Art in New Delhi, and the Vatican Embassy in New Delhi.
Paresh’s other accolades include the All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society Award for Best Watercolor painting, the Award for Outstanding Painting from Birla Academy of Art and Culture, the British Council Visitorship Award, Royal Watercolor Society Award the Dayawati Modi Award for Art, Culture and Education and most recently the Padmai Shri Award from the Government of India.
Stellar International Art Foundation was established in 2008 and took as its basis the private collection of the Choudhrie family. The Foundation comprises over 600 works by an array of Indian and Western Contemporary artists ranging from painting to sculpture. The collection began in the 1970s when the Choudhrie family began to purchase works of art. This led to relationships with some of India’s most important contemporary artists including M F Husain, Paresh Maity and Jayasri Burman. The Foundation seeks to promote artists within the collection through international exhibition, loans, publications and events.
