Parag Sonarghare was born in Nagpur, India in 1987 and holds a M.V.A. (Art History and Aesthetics) from M.S. University, Baroda, India. Parag completed his B.F.A. (Painting) in 2008 from Govt. Chitrakala Mahavidyalaya Nagpur University, Nagpur (Maharashtra) India.
The male figures that Sonarghare portrays in his works on canvas, are of older men from the lower socio-economic strata. Painted in a larger-than-life format, they bear the marks of time – wrinkles, wounds, rough edges and imperfections. Yet they seem unperturbed by their condition. Here one of modern society’s most marginalised segments, is painted into prominence. Sonarghare is interested in painting the nude body - insofar as to expose the soul through the map of the skin. The choice of subject, treatment and scale of the work - allows the artist to draw attention to ordinary people, with extraordinary sensitivity and skill.
In 2023 Parag was invited by artist and curator Riyas Komu to exhibit a monumental painting in Sea A Boiling Vessel at the Kashi Hallegua House in Kochi. His works also featured in Magic Markers a show curated by Girish Shahane for Gallerie Splash at Bikaner House in Delhi. In 2022 he was an artist-in-residence at Casa Cerrito in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. In 2021 Parag was part of a group show titled Portraits of the Self II, at Gallery Maskara, Mumbai, India. In 2020 Parag participated in a group show titled Burning House atMuseum Sztuki, Lodz, Poland. In 2019 he was part of an exhibition at Kunstsilo Altdorf, Altdorf, Switzerland, where he was also invited as an artist-in-residence. In 2018 he was part of the Pepper House residency in conjunction with Kochi Muziris Biennale. In 2016 Parag was part of two group shows titled TIME and Portraits of the Self, at Gallery Maskara, Mumbai, India. He was also part of Asia Contemporary Art Exhibition, Jeonbuk Museum of Art, Korea and The Young Subcontinent, Serendipity Arts, Goa. The artist works and lives in Baroda.
Between 2017 to 2021 he has made many wall murals as public art projects in Mumbai, Kochi, Varanasi, Switzerland and Goa. He has used the body both in performance and in painting. Selected performances include Being the Other, KHOJ International Artist Association, Delhi, AHAMBRAHMASMI at various locations including Delhi, Nagpur and Baroda. He has participated in various group exhibitions including Rethinking the Regional, Curated by Manisha Patil, NGMA, Mumbai, Indian Contemporary Art, space 1858, Chicago, USA, PARADIGMS & PERSPECTIVE, Indigo blue art gallery, Singapore amongst others.
His works are in the collection of Karen & Robert Duncan, USA, The Huerlimann collection, Switzerland, Antoine de Galbert collection, France amongst other important collections in the US, Europe and India.
2024
India Art Fair, New Delhi, India
2023
India Art Fair, New Delhi, India
Sea A Boiling Vessel, Kashi Hallegua House, Kochi
Magic Markers, Gallerie Splash, New Delhi, India
2021
Portraits of the Self II, Gallery Maskara, Mumbai
2020
Burning House, Museum Sztuki, Lodz, Poland
2019
Kunstsilo Altdorf, Altdorf, Switzerland
2016
The Young Subcontinent, Serendipity Arts, Goa
TIME, Gallery Maskara, Mumbai
Asia Contemporary Art Exhibition, Jeonbuk Museum of Art, Korea
Portraits of the Self, Gallery Maskara, Mumbai
2015
Rethinking the Regional, Curated by Manisha Patil, NGMA, Mumbai
2013
Indian Contemporary Art, space 1858, Chicago, USA
VERSATILE THOUGHTS, Percept art, Mumbai
2012
@rt Virtually Real, Art Alive gallery, Gurgaon
PARADIGMS & PERSPECTIVE, Indigo blue art gallery, Singapore
THE DRAMATICS OF DIVERCE INTERPRETATION / PERSPECTIVE, Art Konsult gallery, Delhi
2011
FUTURE of the Museum Collection - III Curated by Johny ML, INDIA Habitat Centre, Delhi
MATTER OF FACT faculty of fine arts gallery, Baroda
2009
INDIAN SUMMER, Forth gallery, Singapore
2008
MONSOON SHOW Jahangir art gallery, Mumbai
PERFORMANCE
2013
Being the Other, KHOJ International Artist Association, Delhi
2012
AHAMBRAHMASMI, Art Alive gallery, Gurgaon
‘ROCK’ n ’ROLL’, Faculty of fine arts, Baroda
IDENTIFIED UNSTABLE OBJECT, Nagpur
AHAMBRAHMASMI, Nagpur
2011
AHAMBRAHMASMI, Baroda
GREEN? Epicenter, Gurgaon
METAMORPHOS, Puri
RESIDENCY AND WORKSHOPS
2022
Casa Cerrito, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
2019
Kunstdepot, Goschenen, Switzerland
2018
Pepper House Graffiti, Fort Kochi
2013
Peers, KHOJ International Artist Association. Delhi
2011
Bay Watch Residency organized by Art Konsult Gallery, Puri, Orissa
WALL MURALS
2021
Gallery Maskara, Mumbai, India
2020
Varanasi, India, ‘Donate a Wall’ with Start India in association with Asian Paints
2019
Goschnen, Switzerland, for private collection
2018
Kochi, India, in association with Kochi Muzris Biennale Foundation
2017
Panjim, India, a project with Start India Foundation in association with Serendipity Arts Festival
AWARDS
2008
K.K. HEBBER Award, Monsoon show, Jahangir art gallery, Mumbai
SCHOLARSHIP
2011
H.R.D. scholarship, Ministry of culture, India
COLLECTIONS
Artist’s works are in several collections in India, USA, Switzerland, France and other private collections including Antoine de Galbert, Christoph Huerlimann collection, Karen and Robert Duncan collection, Andrey Terebenin collection amongst others.