(1930–2016)
Jeram Patel was a pioneering Indian modernist known for his bold and uncompromising exploration of abstraction and material. Trained in painting at Sir J.J. School of Art, Mumbai (1950–55), and in typography and publicity design at the Central School of Arts and Crafts, London (1959), Patel became a founding member of Group 1890, a radical collective that redefined post-independence Indian art.
His distinctive use of blowtorches on wood and dense black ink created visceral, sculptural drawings that broke away from narrative and figuration, marking a significant shift in Indian modernism. Patel’s work was a confrontation with form, often oscillating between violence and transcendence, order and chaos.
In the years following his passing, there has been renewed institutional and curatorial interest in his legacy. Notable exhibitions include Ink at Gallery Espace, New Delhi (2023); Group 1890 at The Fuller Building, New York (2017); A Dark Loam: Between Memory and Membrance at the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art, Noida (2016); and Group 1890 at Delhi Art Gallery, New Delhi (2016). Earlier solo presentations include The Harrington Street Arts Centre, Kolkata (2011), Shridharani Gallery, New Delhi (2009), Anant Art (2007), and Gallery Espace (2004). His work has featured in major international exhibitions including the XIV São Paulo Biennale (1977), Tokyo and São Paulo Biennales (1963), the 6th British International Print Biennale (1979), and exhibitions in Tehran, Washington DC, London, and New York. He represented India at multiple editions of the Lalit Kala Akademi’s International Triennale (1968, 1975, 1978, 1981).
Throughout his career, Patel received numerous honors, including the Kala Ratna from AIFACS (1997), the Emeritus Fellowship from the Government of India (1994), the Ravishankar Raval Award (1992), and several National Awards from the Lalit Kala Akademi (1957, 1963, 1973, 1984). His legacy remains central to the history of Indian abstraction, influencing generations of artists through his fearless experimentation and material intensity.