S.S.Shaikh

Short Biography

Shaikh's relationship with art began in early childhood, and by the time he was a school student he was already painting rural scenes that found recognition at established art venues in Mumbai. He went on to study at the prestigious Sir J. J. School of Art in Mumbai, where he was awarded a Gold Medal in Drawing and Painting, the Miss Dolly Cursetji Prize, and a fellowship from the institution. His student years were marked by consistent academic recognition, including first position in the S.S.C. Board of Maharashtra and a Silver Medal in his D.T.C. examination. He went on to receive awards from the Bombay Art Society across several decades, including recognition for works such as 'Sunday', 'Rush for Lunch', and 'The Boat'. In 1997, he was honoured by the Raza Academy Mumbai for excellence in art on the occasion of 50 years of Indian independence, and a painting was selected for exhibition at Chavan Art Gallery and the National Art Gallery for the same commemoration. He was awarded the Paranjape Gunijan Art Award in 2004 and served as chief guest at an exhibition organized by Sanskar Bharathi in Pune in 2001. Shaikh passed away in 2015, leaving behind a rich body of work that continues to preserve the beauty and traditions of rural India.

Education

Shaikh studied at Sir J. J. School of Art, Mumbai, where he was awarded a Gold Medal in G.D. Art (Drawing and Painting), the Miss Dolly Cursetji Prize, and a fellowship from the institution.

Awards

Shaikh received recognition throughout his career from leading Indian art institutions. His awards include a cash prize for first position in art in the S.S.C. Board of Maharashtra (1957); a Silver Medal for first position with first class in the D.T.C. examination (1958); a Gold Medal in G.D. Art, the Miss Dolly Cursetji Prize, and a fellowship from J. J. School of Art (1959); a Bronze Medal from the Bombay Art Society and the Rao Bahadur M. V. Dhurandhar cash prize for 'Sunday' (1962); a cash prize and commendation certificate from the Bombay Art Society for 'Rush for Lunch' (1968); the Ratan Kumar Jain Prize from the Bombay Art Society for 'The Boat' (1984); a National Award for the best calendar in watercolor depicting the hill stations of India (1986); a cash prize and certificate from the Art Society of India for 'The Village Mother' (1988); an honor for excellence in art by Raza Academy Mumbai (1997); and the Paranjape Gunijan Art Award (2004).

Artistic Style

Shaikh worked in a realistic style, painting rural India with remarkable sensitivity and attention to atmospheric detail. His subjects, drawn from the landscapes, villages, bullock carts, fields, and quiet moments of everyday country life, were approached not as documentary records but as meditations on the simplicity and timeless character of the world he observed. Working across oil and watercolor, he brought a refined technical command to compositions that balanced naturalistic observation with genuine emotional warmth. His paintings remain among the most considered and accomplished examples of Indian landscape realism of the twentieth century.