Awdhesh Tamrakar (b. 1989) lives and works between Hyderabad and Baroda. Originally from Shahgarh, Madhya Pradesh (a small town between Khajuraho and Sanchi), he completed his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Sculpture from the Faculty of Fine Arts, M.S. University, Baroda, in 2013 and 2015. Tamrakar served as a Guest Faculty member in the Department of Fine Arts at S.N. School of Arts and Communication, University of Hyderabad, from 2018 to 2023.
His work addresses issues of movement, migration, and the search for identity, belonging, and home, often in dialogue with his hometown and community. His surname, Tamrakar, translates to “craftsperson of copper,” reflecting his family’s occupational lineage. The materials he employs in his practice extend beyond aesthetic concerns; they function as markers of ancestry and inherited knowledge. He works with techniques and materials rooted in the indigenous tradition of utensil making.
Tamrakar was awarded a 3-month international art residency at Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris (2025), supported by Prameya Art Foundation, New Delhi, Institut Français Paris, and Institut Français in India. He also participated in a site-specific project for Jodhpur Art Week, Edition 1.0 (2025), curated by Sakhshi Mahajan and Tapiwa Matsinde.
His solo exhibitions include “Dūr-darāz,” Shrine Empire, New Delhi (2022); “Muted Mathaar,” supported by The Raza Foundation on the occasion of 100 years of S.H. Raza, Triveni Art Gallery, New Delhi (2021); and “Unfastened Association,” supported by SCZCC, Nagpur, Faculty of Fine Arts, Baroda (2016).
Recent group exhibitions and projects include Indian Ceramics Triennale, New Delhi (2024); Delhi Contemporary Art Week with Shrine Empire, New Delhi (2023, 2022); India Art Fair with Shrine Empire (2024, 2023); ART Mumbai with Shrine Empire, Mumbai (2023); “Thinking Matters,” curated by Mario D’Souza, Space Studio, Baroda (2020); “Heads in the Cloud, Five Million Incidents,” conceived in collaboration with Raqs Media Collective and organized by Goethe-Institut / Max Mueller Bhavan, New Delhi and Kolkata (2020); Art and Science Dialogue, a collaborative project with TIFR Hyderabad (2018); “Madhyama,” curated by Akhilesh, Raza Foundation, New Delhi (2018); “ID-ENTITY,”curated by Zero Gravity Collective, New Delhi (2018); and “Displaced Places,” Utsha Foundation, Bhubaneswar (2017).
Tamrakar received a Gold Medal from the Department of Sculpture, Faculty of Fine Arts, Baroda (2015); the Chinmoy Pramanik Memorial Award, Faculty of Fine Arts, Baroda (2015); and the Emerging Master Award, Sarjan Art Gallery, Baroda (2014).
Awdhesh Tamrakar is currently an Associate Professor of Sculpture in the Department of Fine Arts, S.N. School of Arts and Communication, University of Hyderabad, and continues to live and work between Hyderabad and Baroda.
CV
EDUCATION
2013-2015 M.V.A. (Sculpture ) Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda, Gujarat
2009-2013 B.V.A. (Sculpture ) Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University, Baroda, Gujarat
2011 Master Potter Course from R. P. T. C. Gramodaya Sangh, Bhadrawati, Khadi and Village Industries Commission, India
AWARDS
2020 Mukhund Sakharam Bhand State Award by Ustad Alauddin Khan Sangeet & Kala Academy, Bhopal,MP
2016 Gold Medal for Excellence in M.V.A (Sculpture), Faculty of Fine Arts, M. S. University, Baroda, Gujarat
2015 Solo Show Sponsorship Award by South Central Zone Cultural Centre, Nagpur.
2015 Chinmoy Pramanik Memorial Award for Best Display in M.V.A. (Sculpture), Faculty of Fine Art, M.S. University of Baroda, Gujarat
2014 Emerging Master Award, Sarjan art gallery, Baroda, Gujarat
2014 third prize at Vibrant Gujarat national Education Summit at kanoria centre for art, Ahmedabad, Gujarat
WORK / ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE
2018 – 2023 Guest Faculty, Department of Fine Arts, S. N. School of Arts and Communication, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, Telangana
2022 Board of Studies – Academic & Planing for Department of Sculpture, JNA&FA University, Hyderabad, Telangana
2021 External Jury Member End Semester Examination, Department of Sculpture, JNA&FA University, Hyderabad, Telangana
TALK AND PRESENTATION
2024 Presentation and interaction at Dhi Contemporary, Hyderabad
2018 Presentation and Interaction at Jawaharlal Nehru Architecture and Fine Arts University, Hyderabad, Telangana
2017 Presentation and interaction at Utsha Foundation for Contemporary Art, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2022 Dūr-darāz, Shrine Empire, New Delhi
2021 Muted Mathaar: Supported by The Raza Foundation on the occasion of 100 years of S H Raza, held at Triveni Art Gallery, New Delhi
2015 Unfastened Association: Supported by South Central Zone Cultural Center, held at Exhibition Hall, Faculty of Fine Arts, M. S. University of Baroda, Gujarat
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024 Indian Art Fair 2024, represented by Shrine Empire,NSIC exhibition ground, New Delhi
2024 Indian Ceramic Triennale, Arthshila, Okhala, New Delhi
2023 Delhi Contemporary Art Week, represented by Shrine Empire, Bikaner House, New Delhi
2023 Indian Art Fair 2023, represented by Shrine Empire,NSIC exhibition ground, New Delhi
2022 Delhi Contemporary Art Week, represented by Shrine Empire, Bikaner House, New Delhi
2021 Weaving Abstractions. Held at gallery 079 Stories, Ahmadabad, Gujarat
2020 Thinking Matter. Curated by Mario D’Souza at Space Studio, Art District, Baroda, Gujarat
2020 Asthabhuji. Curated by Annapurna M, at Gallery 78, Hyderabad, Telangana
2019 Words of Silence. Curated by Akhilesh Verma, at Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai.
2018 Madhyama. Curated by Akhilesh Verma, supported by The Raza Foundation at Triveni Kala Sangam, Delhi.
2018 ID-ENTITY. Curated by Zero Gravity Collective at New Delhi.
2016 Emerging Palettes. Held at Shrishti Art Gallery, Hyderabad, Telangana.
2016 Hub 8: Statuettes & Trinkets. Held at Faculty of Fine Arts, M.S.University, Baroda, Gujarat.
2015 28th National Exhibition of Contemporary Art, South Central Zone Cultural Centre, Nagpur, India
2014 Vibrant Gujarat national exhibition at Kanoria centre for art, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
RESIDENCIES AND PROJECTS
2020 Heads in the Cloud. An augmented Reality based mobile application. It was developed as a part of Five Million Incidents, a year-long series of events, Conceived in collaboration with Raqs Media Collective and Organized by Goethe-Institut/ Max Mueller Bhawan Delhi and Kolkata.
2018 Size: Art and Science Dialogue, Conceived and led by Dr. Baishali Ghosh, Collaborative project between TIFR and the Department of Fine Arts, S. N. School of Arts and Communication, University of Hyderabad, Telangana
2017 Displaced Places, residency project developed during one month stay at Utsha Foundation for Contemporary Art, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
WORKSHOPS / CAMPS
2021 Drawing Camp. Organized by Bharat Bhawan to celebrate the 39th Anniversary of Bharat Bhawan, Bhopal
2021 Rang Mandu: Young Visual Artist Painting Camp, organized by The Raza Foundation to celebrate 100 years of the modern Indian master Sayed Haider Raza at Mandu M.P.
2017 Sprit of Baroda, Scrap Metal Sculpture Camp organized by Vadodara Municipal Corporation, Vadodara, Gujarat
2015 National Stone Carving Camp, Organized by South Central Zone Cultural Centre, Nagpur and West Cultural Zone Udaipur at Shilpgram, Udaipur, Rajasthan
2013 Dandi Marchers’ Sculptures Workshop I, Part of The National Salt Satyagraha Memorial (NSSM) a project of the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, advised by a High-Level Dandi Memorial Committee coordinated and implemented by IIT Bombay in association with an International Design Team, at Indian Institute of Technology, Powai, Mumbai, Maharashtra. Final Sculptures are installed as a part of the National Salt Satyagraha Memorial, at Dandi, Gujarat
2013 Alternative Photography workshop conducted by Kate Copeland(Dean and VP of Academic Affairs at Pacific orthwest College of Art in Portland, Oregon), visiting artist at Department of Graphic Art, Faculty of Fine Arts, M.S.University, Baroda, Gujarat
2013 Sound Art workshop, Conducted by Dr. Igal Myrtenbaum(composer, lecturer and educator) at Faculty of Fine arts, M.S.University, Baroda, Gujarat
2009 Video Art Workshop, at Department of Painting, Faculty of Fine Arts, M.S.University, Baroda, Gujarat
2009 Pottery art of Pokhran Under do and learn program at Indra Gandhi Rashtriya Manav Sangrahalaya, Bhopal, India