Murli Lahoti

Born in Maharashtra into an agricultural business family, Lahoti developed a deep love for painting during his childhood. Despite initial objections from his family, he remained committed to his passion and pursued formal training in the arts. He earned a graduate diploma in Fine Arts (Drawing & Painting) in 1968, followed by a graduate diploma in Commercial and Applied Arts from Abhinav Kala Mahavidyalaya, Pune, in 1971.

Over a prolific career spanning several decades, Lahoti has held an impressive 125 solo exhibitions and participated in 115 group shows, both in India and internationally. His artistic practice spans a diverse range of media, including sand, ceramic, fibre, glass, palm leaf, and plaster of Paris, alongside traditional materials like canvas and paper.

While his subjects vary, his current series—depicting village scenes—is a quintessential representation of his signature style. The compositions draw from realism but lean heavily into abstraction and geometric form. Village huts are subtly suggested through structure and form, while the two women in the frame are rendered with a strong sense of composure and stylization. The muted color palette effectively captures the ambiance of the specific time of day being portrayed.