Born in 1933 at Chikhli, Gujarat, he has completed G. D. A. (Painting) and Art master (AM). C D Mistry is an admirer of the early Indian Modernists. He admits to have been strongly attracted to their idea of art having a distinct ‘national’ character. As a result, a lot of his work revolves around folk art, stylizing it and making it into something completely different. He transferred this stylization to Indian mythology and nature, adopting icons from Indian mythology and transforming them into symbols. He has also illustrated narratives from the Hindu epics Ramayana and Mahabharata. The gods Ganesha, Shakti and Muralidhar find themselves brightly coloured and represented on his canvases dotted with folk motifs and little textures.
Mistry’s most recent solo shows include ‘Indian Folk’ at Shree Ravi Shankar Raval Kala Bhavan, Ahmedabad, in 2014; and an exhibition at Jehangir Art Gallery, Mumbai, in 2014. In 1995, he had a solo show at the Lalit Kala Akadems in Ahmedabad. He had his first solo show at the Sanskar Kendra Museum, Ahmedabad, in 1972. He was appointed as a member of Jury for Lalit Kala Academy - New Delhi, AIFACS - New Delhi, Gujarat Lalit Kala Academy.
Honours and Awards:
2001 - Senior Artist Fellowship by Gujarat State Lalit Kala Academy
1985,1988 - Gujarat State Laiit Kala Academy Award
1981 - Hyderabad Art Society's Award
1977 - Glimses of Palestine War and Peace Exhibition, Indo-Arab Society, Mumbai
1975 - National Award as a Best Designer for Painting and Decoration from Ministry of information, New Delhi
1975 - All India Exhibition of Art for Kalidas, Samaroh, Gwa!ior
1975,1977 - Bombay Art Society, Mumbai
1975 - All India Fine Arts and Crafts Society (AIFACS), New Delhi
1974 - All India Exhibition of Art for Kalidas, Samaroh, Ujjain
1972 - Gold Medal and Cash Award from Hyderabad Art Society
1962 - All India Exhibition of Art, Mysore
He passed away in May 2023.
