Gautam Mukherjee

Artist Statement

Gautam Mukherjii believes that art school alone does not make an artist. Talent must be nurtured through curiosity, observation, exchange and, above all, practice. His philosophy is simple: practice, practice and practice. His artistic sensibility has been shaped profoundly by the women in his life: his mother, his wife, who is also a painter, and his daughter. Their presence, strength and affection continue to shelter, support and influence both his life and work.

Born and raised in a three-century-old ancestral home in Kolkata, Mukherjii developed his interest in drawing while participating in the annual Durga Puja festivities. As a student, he helped paint and decorate pandals, where he encountered the visual language of Kalighat Patachitra and the commanding eyes of Maa Durga. This early fascination with the eyes remains central to his work. For him, the eyes are not merely a feature, but a means of seeing, feeling and connecting with the world.

At first glance, his paintings reflect Bengali family life. Chairs, cupboards, traditional attire, jewellery and the interiors of old Kolkata homes create a familiar cultural setting. Within these spaces, intimate gestures reveal universal emotions: a child reaching for a father’s spectacles, two women combing each other’s hair, or family members held together through touch.

Although his subjects are rooted in personal experience, they are not portraits of particular individuals. They represent the values of family, belonging and emotional closeness. Husbands and wives, mothers and children, grandparents and grandchildren, and siblings appear in moments of affection and quiet companionship.

Over time, Mukherjii’s palette has become increasingly vibrant, cheerful and richly layered, yet family remains at the heart of his practice. He often leaves individual works untitled, allowing viewers to form their own interpretations, while broader bodies of work carry titles such as Ghare Baire, Nostalgia, Down Memory Lane, Sonar Bangla and Kolkatar Babu.