Satish Panchal

Born in Mumbai in 1935, Satish Panchal obtained a Diploma in Applied Art from the Sir J. J. School of Art, Mumbai.

Satish Panchal worked at Gallery Chemould designing posters, invitations and catalogues. There, he met and befriended artists including Ambadas, Ram Kumar and Himmat Shah. His posters caught the attention of the French Consul General in Bombay and were presented in an exhibition at the Alliance Francaise, Mumbai in 1969. 

In the 1960s, Panchal became deeply influenced by the teachings of J Krishnamurti and Acharya Rajneesh as well as painters such as Homi Patel, V. S. Gaitonde, and Ambadas. Panchal embraced abstraction towards the 1960s and participated in group shows with several of these artists through the 1960s and 70s.

He moved to Paris in the 1970s and held a studio at Bateau Lavoir in Paris. Panchal lived and worked in France for over three decades.

Panchal was one of three Indian artists alongside S. H. Raza and Vishwanathan whose works were selected for display at the prestigious Menton Biennale (1972). From 1973 onwards, he conducted orientation courses and international seminars in serigraphy for young artists during summer at Mezels, central France. He was awarded the Prix de Sérigraphie at the Galerie du Haut-Pavé, Paris in 1974.

His works can be found in the collection of Bibliotheque Nationale, French Ministry of Culture, Jehangir Nicholson Art Foundation, National Gallery of Modern Art (New Delhi & Bangalore).
Satish Panchal passed away in 2021.