Krishna Reddy

Painter Sculptor | India

Born in 1925

Died in 2018

« Krishna Reddy traveled to Europe, where from 1951 to 1952 he studied art at the Slade School of Fine Arts, University of London.. »

Krishna Reddy was a world-renowned master of printmaking and sculpture, celebrated for his revolutionary contribution to the technical and aesthetic evolution of the medium. Born in Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh, he studied at Santiniketan under Nandalal Bose before moving to Europe, where he worked alongside icons like Giacometti and Henry Moore. However, his most significant impact occurred at Atelier 17 in Paris, where he served as associate director and collaborated with Joan Miró and Pablo Picasso. Reddy is best known for pioneering the technique of multicolor viscosity printing. Before his intervention, printing multiple colors required separate plates for each hue. Reddy discovered that by manipulating the oil content and tackiness of different inks, he could apply multiple colors to a single intaglio plate. This allowed for a complex, layered luminosity that mirrored the organic textures of nature. His works, such as the iconic "Clown" and "Spider Web" series, are characterized by a semi-abstract, rhythmic energy that explores the mathematical and spiritual structures of the natural world. Beyond his technical brilliance, Reddy was a dedicated educator, heading the graphics department at New York University for decades. His philosophy viewed the artist as a scientist of the soul, seeking to uncover the hidden symmetries of the universe. A recipient of the Padma Shri, his legacy remains foundational to modern printmaking, transforming a mechanical process into a deeply meditative and expressive art form. His canvases and plates are prized for their intricate textures and their ability to capture the vibrational essence of life.

Credentials
You would like to invest in this artist?

Contact us via email


Follow this artists

Krishna Reddy

ABOUT

Krishna Reddy traveled to Europe, where from 1951 to 1952 he studied art at the Slade School of Fine Arts, University of London.

Painter | Sculptor | India

Born in 1925

Died in 2018

Krishna Reddy
You would like to invest in this artist?

Contact us via email

Krishna Reddy was a world-renowned master of printmaking and sculpture, celebrated for his revolutionary contribution to the technical and aesthetic evolution of the medium. Born in Chittoor, Andhra Pradesh, he studied at Santiniketan under Nandalal Bose before moving to Europe, where he worked alongside icons like Giacometti and Henry Moore. However, his most significant impact occurred at Atelier 17 in Paris, where he served as associate director and collaborated with Joan Miró and Pablo Picasso. Reddy is best known for pioneering the technique of multicolor viscosity printing. Before his intervention, printing multiple colors required separate plates for each hue. Reddy discovered that by manipulating the oil content and tackiness of different inks, he could apply multiple colors to a single intaglio plate. This allowed for a complex, layered luminosity that mirrored the organic textures of nature. His works, such as the iconic "Clown" and "Spider Web" series, are characterized by a semi-abstract, rhythmic energy that explores the mathematical and spiritual structures of the natural world. Beyond his technical brilliance, Reddy was a dedicated educator, heading the graphics department at New York University for decades. His philosophy viewed the artist as a scientist of the soul, seeking to uncover the hidden symmetries of the universe. A recipient of the Padma Shri, his legacy remains foundational to modern printmaking, transforming a mechanical process into a deeply meditative and expressive art form. His canvases and plates are prized for their intricate textures and their ability to capture the vibrational essence of life.

Follow this artist

Credentials

Prizes
  • Honored by the Manhattan Graphics Center, New York 1999
  • Padma Shri, Government of India 1972
  • Lifetime Achievement Award by The Society of American Graphic Artists (SAGA) 2005
Solo Exhibitions
  • 'New Ways of Simultaneous Color Printmaking', presented by the National Education Association, the New York State for Culture and the Arts, and the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, Bronx Museum
  • Retrospective, Birla Academy of Art and Culture (BAAC), Kolkata
  • 'Prints by Sculptors', Roy G.Biv Gallery, New York
  • Gallery Weintraub, New York
  • Retrospective exhibition presented by Printmaking Council of New Jersey at Somerville, New Jersey, and the Widener Gallery at Trinity College, Hartford, Connecticut
  • Five Retrospectives in USA,Mexico,Canada & Bangalore
Group Exhibitions
  • 'Discerning Form', Aicon Gallery, New York
  • Retrospective Exhibition, Three Master Printmakers: Lee Chesney, Krishna Reddy, and Ken Kerslake at Campus Center Gallery, the University of Hawaii at Hilo, Hilo, Hawaii
  • 'Workshop and Legacy: Stanley William Hayter, Krishna Reddy, Zarina Hashmi', The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York
  • 'Panoplism', Nature Morte, New Delhi
  • 'Natural Bodies, Subverted Canons', Vadehra Art Gallery, New Delhi

Latest artworks