Chintan Upadhyay (born 1972) is an

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

n visual artist, and convicted murderer. He began his art career as a painter, but later created sculptures and installations. His best known sculpture project is perhaps the Pet Shop project, which is an ongoing production of a "model baby" for every season, ''Baby Fetish''. He was awarded the Charles Wallace Foundation Award for Residency in

Bristol Bristol () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, the most populous city in the region. Built around the River Avon, Bristol, River Avon, it is bordered by t ...

, UK in 2012.

Early life

Chintan was born on 18 August 1972, in Partapur in Rajasthan, India. He received a BFA degree in 1995, and MFA degree in 1997, both degrees in painting are from the

Faculty of Fine Arts Faculty or faculties may refer to: Academia * Faculty (academic staff), professors, researchers, and teachers of a given university or college (North American usage) * Faculty (division), a large department of a university by field of study (us ...

from

Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, formerly Baroda College, is a public university in the city of Vadodara, Gujarat, India. Originally established as a college in 1881, it became a public university on April 30, 1949 and was renamed after ...

in Vadodara, in Gujarat, India. He met artist Hema Hirani in 1992, and the couple was married in 1998. They settled in Mumbai, and worked together in many art exhibitions. In 2010, they started the process of divorce, which was finalized in 2014.

Double murder conviction

In December 2015, Upadhyay was accused and arrested in connection with the double murder of his estranged wife Hema Upadhyay and her lawyer Haresh Bhambhani. Their bodies were found in khakhi-coloured cardboard boxes floating in a nullah. He was twice denied bail. In October 2023, he was convicted of murder and sentenced to

life in prison Life imprisonment is any sentence of imprisonment under which the convicted individual is to remain incarcerated for the rest of their natural life (or until pardoned or commuted to a fixed term). Crimes that result in life imprisonment are co ...

by a Dindoshi court.

Solo shows

Following is the list of his solo shows: *2010 'Nature God', Sakshi Gallery,

Taipei , nickname = The City of Azaleas , image_map = , map_caption = , pushpin_map = Taiwan#Asia#Pacific Ocean#Earth , coordinates = , subdivision_type = Country ...

*2009–10 'Mistake', Inda Gallery,

Budapest Budapest is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns of Hungary, most populous city of Hungary. It is the List of cities in the European Union by population within city limits, tenth-largest city in the European Union by popul ...

*2009 'Khatti Mithi', Project at Sakshi Gallery,

Mumbai Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial capital and the most populous city proper of India with an estimated population of 12 ...

*2009 'Iconic Shrine',

Jawahar Kala Kendra The Jawahar Kala Kendra (JKK) is a multi-arts center located in the city of Jaipur, India. It was built by the Government of Rajasthan to preserve Rajasthani arts and crafts. The center has eight blocks housing museums, an amphitheater, a clos ...

Jaipur Jaipur (; , ) is the List of state and union territory capitals in India, capital and the List of cities and towns in Rajasthan, largest city of the north-western States and union territories of India, Indian state of Rajasthan. , the city had ...

in collaboration with Roundabout and Gallery Soulflower,

Bangkok Bangkok, officially known in Thai language, Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estim ...

*2008 'Mistake', Aicon Gallery, London *2008 'Pet Shop', Ashish Balram Nagpal Galleries,

*2008 'New Indians', Galerie Natalie Seroussi, Paris *2008 'Metastasis of Signs – A Walk in the Realm of Manipulated Realities', Gallery Espace, New Delhi *2007 'Tentuaa Dabaa Do (Kill Her)',

, Rajasthan *2006 'I Want To Be An International Artist', Solo Performance, Seoul Art Centre,

Korea Korea is a peninsular region in East Asia consisting of the Korean Peninsula, Jeju Island, and smaller islands. Since the end of World War II in 1945, it has been politically Division of Korea, divided at or near the 38th parallel north, 3 ...

*2006 'Clone Vitthala', Sculptures at Ashish Balram Nagpal Gallery,

*2006 'Maya', Paintings at Ashish Balram Nagpal Gallery,

*2005 'Baar Baar, Har Baar, Kitni Baar?', Installation and Interactive Performance, Sarjan Art Gallery,

Vadodara Vadodara (), also known as Baroda, is a city situated on the banks of the Vishwamitri River in the Indian state of Gujarat. It serves as the administrative headquarters of the Vadodara district. The city is named for its abundance of banyan ...

*2004 'Conker's’, Installation Project,

Spike Island, Bristol Spike Island is an inner city and harbour area of the English port city of Bristol, adjoining the city centre. It comprises the strip of land between the Floating Harbour to the north and the tidal New Cut of the River Avon to the south, ...

, UK *2004 'Designer Babies', Ashish Balram Nagpal Gallery,

*2003 'New Breed / Hybrid',

Jehangir Art Gallery Jehangir Art Gallery is an art gallery in Mumbai (India). It was founded by Sir Cowasji Jehangir at the urging of K. K. Hebbar and Homi J. Bhabha. It was built in 1952. Managed by the Committee of Management, the entire cost of this mansion wa ...

*2002 'Commemorative Stamps', Ashish Balram Nagpal Gallery,

*2002 'Commemorative Stamps',

*2002 'Floating thoughts', Interactive site-specific installation,

Brisbane Brisbane ( ; ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and largest city of the States and territories of Australia, state of Queensland and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia, with a ...

, Australia *1999 'So What', The Fine Art Company,

*1998 'This has been done before', Shahjehan Art Gallery, New Delhi *1996 'Desirable Objects', Leela Kempenski Art Gallery,

Group shows

*2012 '2 + 2 = 5', The Palette Art Gallery, New Delhi *2012 'Looking Back, Looking Forward', Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai *2012 'Mapmakers: The Evolution of Contemporary Indian Art', Aicon Gallery, New York *2012 'Contemporary: A Selection of Modern and Contemporary Art', presented by Sakshi Gallery at The Park, Chennai *2012 'Sightings', Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai *2011 'Adbhutam: Rasa in Indian Art', Centre of International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata *2011 'Skin Deep: The Art of Fibreglass', The Viewing Room, Mumbai *2011 'Between Seasons', Gallery Beyond, Mumbai *2011 'Love is a 4 Letter Word', Latitude 28, New Delhi *2011 'Fabular Bodies: New Narratives in the Art of the Miniature', presented by Harmony Art Foundation at Coomaraswamy Hall, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharah Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mumbai *2011 'Anecdotes', Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai *2011 'High-Light', presented by Sakshi Gallery, Mumbai at The Oberoi, Gurgaon *2011 'Dolls', Gallery Sumukha, Bangalore *2011 'Tech-Cut-Edge-Revelations', Ashna Gallery, New Delhi *2010 'Changing Skin', presented by The Fine Art Company at Coomaraswamy Hall, Chattrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalay, Mumbai *2010 'A. SYCO', The Viewing Room, Mumbai *2009 'Home Sweet Home', Religare Arts. i Gallery, New Delhi *2009 'Indian Summer', Galerie Christian Hosp, Berlin *2009 'Inaugural Show', Sakshi Gallery, Taipei *2008–09 'Signs Taken for Wonders: Recent Art from India and Pakistan', Aicon Gallery, London *2008–09 'Hot Shots', The Viewing Room, Mumbai *2008 'Uncovered', Sans Tache Art Gallery, Mumbai *2008 ‘Keep Drawing’, Gallery Espace, New Delhi *2008 'The Ethics of Encounter', Gallery Soulflower, Bangkok *2008 'Indiavata', Gallery Sun Contemporary, Korea *2008 'Link', Sakshi Art Gallery, Mumbai *2008 ‘Freedom 2008 : Sixty Years After Indian Independence’, Centre for International Modern Art (CIMA), Kolkata *2007 ‘Telling It Like It Is: The Indian Story’, The Gallery in Cork Street, London *2007 ‘Here and Now: Contemporary Voices from India’, Grosvenor Gallery, London *2007 ‘Young Guns’, Institute of Contemporary Indian Art (ICIA), Mumbai *2007 'Keep Drawing', Pundole Art Gallery, Mumbai *2006 ‘Bombay Maximum City’, Lille 3000, Lille, France *2005 -06 ‘Kaam’, Arts India Gallery, New York and Palo Alto, USA *2005 ‘Annual Exhibition’, Sakshi Art Gallery, Mumbai *2005 ‘Indian Contemporary Art’, Preview TATE Britain *2005 ‘Configuration’, Anant Art Gallery, New Delhi *2005 ‘Ways Of Seeing’, Gallery Art Alive, New Delhi *2005 ‘Papereshi’, Sarjan Art Gallery, Vadodara *2005 ‘Present-Future’, National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA), Mumbai *2005 ‘Indian Contemporary Art’, Chelsea College of Art, London *2005 ‘Are We Like This Only?’, Rabindra Bhavan, Vadhera Art Gallery, New Delhi *2004 ‘Bombay Boys’, Palette Art Gallery, New Delhi *2004 ‘Charles Wallace Foundation Awards’, British Council, New Delhi *2004 ‘Concepts and Ideas’, Centre for International Modern art (CIMA), Kolkata *2004 Gallery 27, Oslo, Norway *2004 – 03 ‘Portraits of a Decade’, Centre for International Modern art (CIMA), Kolkata and Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai *2004 – 03 ‘Dots and Pixels’, Digital media, Sumukha Art Gallery, Bangalore and Gallery Espace, New Delhi *2004 ‘Bombay 17’, Kashi Art Gallery, Kochi *2003 ‘Parthenogenesis’, Ivan Dougherty Gallery, Sydney, Australia *2003 ‘Corresponding Latitudes’, A Cross Cultural Collaborative Exhibition of Indian and Australian artists, Jawahar Kala Kendra – Jaipur *2002 ‘ Brahma to Bapu', Icons and Symbols in Indian art, Habitat centre, New Delhi, India and Centre for International Modern art (CIMA), Kolkata *2002 ‘Quotable Stencil’, Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai *2001 ‘ Annual show’, Gallery Wren, Sydney, Australia *2000 ‘Sic.’, an Audio-visual Installation, The Fine Art Company, Mumbai *1999 'Mumbai Metaphor’ Tao Art Gallery, Mumbai *1999 ‘Wall Paper’, Lakeeren Art Gallery, Mumbai *1997 ‘Class of 1997’, Lakeeren Art Gallery, Mumbai *1997 ‘50 yr. of Indian Independence’, All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society, Delhi and Ravi Shankar Rawal Bhavan, Ahmedabad – Gujarat

Joint shows

*2005 ‘You Have to Decide’ an Interactive Installation and Performance Center for Art and Culture, Chiksarda,

Transylvania Transylvania ( or ; ; or ; Transylvanian Saxon dialect, Transylvanian Saxon: ''Siweberjen'') is a List of historical regions of Central Europe, historical and cultural region in Central Europe, encompassing central Romania. To the east and ...

, Romania *2005 'I‘m a Slut', a collaborative video and performance with Amit Kekre, Gallery Beyond,

*2004 'Made in China', collaborative installation with Hema Upadhyay, Viart Gallery, New Delhi *2003 'Made in China', collaborative Installation with Hema Upadhyay, Gallery Chemould,

*2003 'Post Card', project with Hema Upadhyay, part of 'Parthenogenesis', Ivan Dougherty Gallery, Sydney *2000 Objects of Desire, collaboration with Hema Upadhyay, 'Art and Technology', Ideas and Images II,

National Gallery of Modern Art The National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) is the premier art gallery under Ministry of Culture, Government of India. The main museum at Jaipur House in New Delhi was established on 29 March 1954 by the Government of India, with subsequent b ...

(NGMA),

*1995 'Circa Early Seventies',

, Maharaja Sayajirao University,

*1994 'Discount 33%', Faculty of Fine Arts, Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara

Honours and awards

* 2004–05 Charles Wallace Foundation Award for a residency in

, UK * 2000–01 Gadi scholarship, NLKA, New Delhi * 1998 Lalit Kala Academy for Outstanding Drawing in a drawing exhibition * 1997 All India Avantika art exhibition, New Delhi * 1996 Lalit Kala Academy for Outstanding Painting in the annual exhibition S.C.Z.C.C. for Outstanding Painting in the annual exhibition,

Nagpur Nagpur (; ISO 15919, ISO: ''Nāgapura'') is the second capital and third-largest city of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is called the heart of India because of its central geographical location. It is the largest and most populated city i ...

Maharashtra Maharashtra () is a state in the western peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. It is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west, the Indian states of Karnataka and Goa to the south, Telangana to th ...

* 1995–97 Lalit Kala Academy for Outstanding Painting in the annual exhibition

References

External links

“Profile, Interview and artworks” Saffronart“Chintan Upadhyay Exhibitions” Aicongallery
{{DEFAULTSORT:Upadhyay, Chintan Indian male painters 1972 births Living people Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda alumni Indian contemporary painters 21st-century Indian painters People from Banswara district Painters from Rajasthan 20th-century Indian male artists 21st-century Indian male artists Indian people convicted of murder