Manu Parekh is one of the most prominent contemporary Indian painters. He was born in Ahmadabad in Gujarat. In 1962, he graduated from Sir J.J. School of Art. He trained under Mukund Shroff during graduation. He also studied in the National School of Drama. He started his career in the theater where he worked as an actor and stage designer for the year.
In 1974, he moved to Delhi to join Handicrafts and Handlooms Export Corporation of India as a Design Consultant. Later on, he left it to pursue his independent career.
He has served as the Exhibition Commissioner for the Madhubani Painting show in Italy as well as in Denmark. In 1971, he was awarded the Birla Academy of Art and Culture. While, in 1972, he received the All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society award and Silver Plaque from the President of India. Lalit Kala Akademi award was received by him in 1982. He received these awards multiple times and in 1991 he was awarded Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian honor.
Manu Parekh is influenced by Rabindranath Tagore and Ramkinkar Baij. He is married to the artist Madhvi Parekh- a well-known contemporary artist. The couple live in Delhi since 1974.
Vikash Kalra is a self-taught artist and writer based in New Delhi whose work has been exhibited across India and is held in several private and corporate collections.