Devidas Dharmadhikari is a leading horse painting artist in India based in Pune. With over 25 years of experience as a professional freelance artist, he is widely known for his expressive and powerful horse artworks. His contemporary Indian paintings combine bold brush strokes with transparent layers to create emotion, movement, and life on canvas, making him a prominent name in modern Indian fine art.
As one of the most respected Indian horse artists working today, Devidas’s horse paintings and fine art reflect a modern yet deeply rooted Indian artistic language. His unique technique of layering colors creates a sense of freedom and energy, capturing the spirit and strength of equestrian subjects in a highly sophisticated contemporary style.
His horse paintings and original fine art have been exhibited in India and internationally, including solo and group exhibitions at prestigious venues like Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai, Gallery G in Bangalore, and Asia House in London. His works are highly collectible and have featured in prestigious art auctions (such as Saffronart and MutualArt), cementing his reputation among art connoisseurs globally.
There is no need to say something about the subject horse — everyone knows about power, beauty, strength and many other aspects in it. The subject itself is enthusiastic, and along with these qualities, it is very challenging to create in paintings.
I have tried to keep the realistic anatomy and proportion of horses without trying to stylize them — sometimes simplifying the form. My paintings capture the movement of the horse through bold strokes and vibrant colours, expressing its strength, power, beauty and force.
Freedom within the Bondings — is it possible for one to search his inner genuine self in the relevant arenas of social bonding and environments? Running horses become a metaphor for life: people often stay put in one place, tied to chains, unwilling and unable to break free. Both elements — the constraint and the spirit — are present in every canvas.
A man is always recognised by his outward appearance, status, social position or emotional expressions. Mostly, these outward appearances display only some aspects of his real personality. 'Stamp' is a symbol of these bondings — the labels society places on individuals that obscure the true self beneath.
It is very difficult to express one's own perception and self-narrations of the inner self faithfully in the present modern age of globalisation. One can enjoy complete freedom only within the set framework of society — and artists are no exception. It is very painful, but there is no alternative.
The various characters in my work have been displayed with partly closed eyes, demonstrating a thoughtful self engaged in a search for identity — through artistic amalgamation of relevant innovative ideas with apt colour tones, lyrical resonance and special textural effects.
DNA — Daily News & Analysis
An assortment of colours, ideas and techniques define how artist Devidas Dharmadhikari captures the varying moods of his subject against a striking background of old postal envelopes and used stamps.
The collection titled Don't Stamp Me depicts one of the artist's friends as his muse, painted on the background of an eclectic mixture of black and white — a sure treat for art connoisseurs. Devidas says: "The message behind this whole collection is to stop being biased towards people. It is time we become good Samaritans by understanding people. We urban settlers have a habit of labelling people and the different moods captured on the canvas represents people's perspectives."
Interestingly, even the digital coding, numerical and minute postal details on the background have all been done with acrylics — not digital printing or mixed media. The collection has 23 canvases worked over a period of three years, with one human face repeated throughout depicting different expressions.
Indian Express
Is man a criminal or is he a saint? Devidas Dharmadhikari's solo show of paintings, Don't Stamp Me, explores the force of Mars and Eros in mankind. His men appear shorn and shadowy, marked with a rubber stamp seal — a metaphor for the approval of society.
"My work is a struggle to discover our individual differences. Yet, there is an attempt to categorise man, to stamp him with an identity and limit the understanding of his complex persona," says the Pune-based artist who studied at Dalvi's Art Institute in Kolhapur. "There are many aspects of a man that make him divine. Yet he is human and vulnerable."
Dharmadhikari advocates listening to the inner voice that guides an individual to discover the true self — not a label or a stamp.
Indian Express · Chennai Edition
Who decides whether a man is honest, brave or short-tempered? An individual gains different labels from society. Exploring this concept of freedom within the bondings of society is artist Devidas Dharmadhikari, through colours on canvas.
"My works are not completely personal but insightful. I try to express my thoughts from vivid life experiences through human body postures and gestures. I even use text in my paintings as a form," says Devidas.
Devidas started his career in 1996, drawing inspiration from everyday life. Each series takes about six years to complete. His role model is Indian artist Vasudeo Gaitonde, who dedicated his entire life to his work. His journey began when his grandfather and father, goldsmiths, would paint walls during festivals — he picked up a brush to help them and has never put it down.
Auction · Market
Devidas Dharmadhikari's work Horse Series 184 set a personal auction record at the FORM auction in 2022, realising approximately USD 6,500 (₹5.4 lakh) — the highest price achieved for the artist at auction to date. His works have been offered at auction multiple times through platforms including Saffronart and MutualArt, with prices steadily climbing as collector interest in contemporary Indian equestrian art grows.
Exhibition · Mumbai
Devidas Dharmadhikari presented his latest works at the iconic Jehangir Art Gallery in Mumbai in 2016 — his fifth appearance at India's most celebrated art venue. The show brought together new Horse Series canvases alongside revisited works from the Stamp Series, drawing strong collector response and critical praise.
New Works · Studio
Fresh from the studio — Horse Series 287, 290, 293 and 299 represent Devidas's most ambitious canvases yet. Ranging from 48″ to 72″ wide, these monumental acrylics are currently available for private sale. Works by Devidas are also listed on ArtZolo and iArt Gallery, with prices ranging from ₹2,00,000 to ₹3,78,000.
Interview · Press
In a profile for the Indian Express (Chennai Edition, August 2016), Devidas spoke about how each series takes around six years to complete and how he draws inspiration from everyday life. He credited his grandfather and father — goldsmiths who painted walls during festivals — as his earliest artistic influences.
Artist Statement
Devidas explains: running horses are a metaphor for the human spirit — people often stay put in one place, tied to chains, unwilling or unable to break free. Both the constraint and the freedom exist simultaneously in every canvas. This tension between social bonding and inner liberation is the heart of his artistic practice.
A look inside the creative space where every canvas begins — large-format works in progress, walls lined with brushes, and the quiet intensity of a painter at work in Warje, Pune.
I am glad that you visited my website. Please fill the form or contact me directly if you want to discuss a commission, enquire about available works, or plan a studio visit in Pune.
