By:-Ragini Chaubey
Architects Vipul Parmar and Mayuri Parmar, along with veteran photojournalist Pradeep Chandra, came together to inaugurate Beyond the Shapes, a solo exhibition by 79-year-old artist Shailaja S. Kamat at Leela Art Gallery, The Leela, Andheri (E).
The evening was warm, personal, and filled with affection. Friends, family members, and art lovers from across Mumbai gathered to celebrate not only Kamat’s art but also her remarkable spirit. The event felt less like a formal opening and more like a heartfelt reunion of people connected through creativity and admiration.
A celebration of a lifelong journey
Open to visitors till 2 November, the exhibition features around 25 to 30 paintings in acrylic and watercolour. Through her expressive strokes, Kamat explores the delicate balance between city life and nature between human-made order and natural rhythm.
Her canvases carry both stillness and movement. Every brushstroke feels deliberate yet free, revealing an artist who paints not just what she sees but what she feels. Beyond the Shapes is, at its core, a celebration of resilience, imagination, and the belief that creativity never grows old.
A heart-to-heart with the artist
When I sat down with Shailaja S. Kamat for Deshwale, her warmth was instantly disarming. She spoke about art as though it were an inseparable part of her being. When Deshwale asked how she stays so creative at 79, she smiled gently and said, “Creativity is my passion. I’ve loved painting since I was a child. It gives me joy and peace.”
She recalled the influence of her mentor, Satyendra Rane, with deep gratitude. “He guided me, inspired me, and encouraged me to exhibit my work. Without his support, I might not have had the courage to share my art,” she reflected.
Kamat also spoke with honesty about personal loss. After the passing of her husband, she found comfort in painting and strength through her son’s encouragement. “He kept pushing me to keep painting, to move forward, to keep doing what I love,” she said softly, her eyes glowing with quiet pride.
Wisdom for the young
When Deshwale asked what message she would give to the younger generation, especially Gen Z, Kamat’s reply was simple yet powerful:
“Keep learning from your mistakes. Every error teaches you something. Don’t stop learning, and don’t give up on your passion.”
Her advice mirrors the essence of her work: gentle, grounded, and full of wisdom. It’s a reminder that growth never stops and that the creative spirit lives on as long as curiosity does.
