With over three decades of experience, Kishor Purekar is a sculptor whose work bridges heritage, innovation, and artistic mastery. A graduate of the prestigious Sir J.J. School of Art, Mumbai (First Class with Distinction), he has dedicated his life to shaping form into presence — creating sculptures that carry both strength and sensitivity.
Kishor has worked across mediums — clay, bronze, fibre, cement, and mixed media but he is best known for his monumental public sculptures and his rare gift for live clay modelling, where he transforms clay into lifelike presence before an audience in just a few hours. His portfolio includes busts, portraits, equestrian statues, murals, installations, and large-scale projects ranging from 12 to 21 feet.
One of his landmark achievements is the Meghdambri Memorial, a 3.5-tonne bronze structure commissioned by the Kolhapur Municipal Corporation and inaugurated in 2020 at the Rajarshi Shahu Maharaj Memorial. Designed in 72 parts and cast at his own studio, this project is regarded as one of the most complex and significant public sculptures in recent decades.
Kishor’s commitment to innovation has led him to develop an in-house casting technology one of its kind, capable of handling sculptures up to 100 feet. His studio is equipped with a furnace, CNC machinery, and modern sculptural facilities that allow him to merge traditional craftsmanship with advanced processes.
Internationally, Kishor made history as the first Indian sculptor to receive the Signature Status Award from the Portrait Society of America (2020) — an honour reserved for artists whose work demonstrates exceptional merit. He also received the Certificate of Excellence Award from the same society in 2014.
Over his career, Kishor has received multiple Maharashtra State Art Awards (2000, 2002, 2006) and has been invited as a jury member, mentor, and live demonstrator at national art camps, exhibitions, and symposiums. His work has been commissioned by both government institutions and private organisations, with dignitaries including the President of India and Chief Ministers inaugurating several of his sculptures.
In 2014, he held his solo exhibition Bold & Beautiful at Jehangir Art Gallery a sold-out show that explored the strength of bulls and the grace of peacocks in unique bronze casts. His upcoming showcase, once again at Jehangir in September 2025, continues this legacy of presenting realism as both timeless and relevant.
Today, Kishor Purekar stands as an artist who not only sculpts forms but also preserves cultural memory, celebrates heritage, and pushes the boundaries of what sculpture can be. His philosophy is simple yet profound: art is not just about likeness, but about presence the spirit made visible in form.