Dhanaraj Keezhara , Artist, photographer, designer, illustrator ,art activist and art educationalist .from Kannur district, Kerala , now living in Bangalore .

At present, working as Department head , Art and Visual media ,at Christel House India, Bangalore.

Studio Contact : #692, Masjed Street, Ramaswamy Palayam, Maruthi Sevanagar Bangalore Karnataka 560033 India

Voice : +91 80 25420188

http://www.dhanrajkeezhara.com

Dhanaraj’s work has been a continuous engagement with art-practice as emerging from the negotiations of people with their society and environment. Fired by a belief in art's ability to heal and renew a world torn asunder by violence and strife, he has continuously involved himself in community initiatives and education. From his student days at the College of Fine Arts, Kannur, through his ten year stint at various NGO’s. His art has always been a means of connecting with people and sharing his emotions and experiences. He has lived and worked with several indigenous communities including the tribal communities of Wayanad in Kerala, the Lambani community of Bidar, bordering Karnataka and Maharashtra as well as the Narmada valley community during the Narmada Bachao Andolan (Save Narmada Campaign). These experiences and dialogues continue to enrich his work. Dhanaraj presented many successful solo and group exhibitions and camps. Works exhibited include mediums like Oils, Watercolours , acrylic , charcoal , dry pastels and mixed medium .

Exhibitions • Conducted solo and group exhibitions in more than 30 villages in Kerala, 1986-91

• Selected for the annual painting exhibition organized by Kerala Lalitha Kala Academy in 1989, 1990, 1991, 2004, 2007 and 2008

• ‘Celebrating cultural pluralities’ Workshop and exhibition of spiral painting, Ravindra Kalakshetra, Bangalore, 1993

• Cultural spiral in plastic -A group exhibition of installation – 1993

• From the nether the ceaseless dance” exhibitions held at three cities of Kerala, 1993-94

• Environment photo exhibition at Ooty 1997, 1998 and 1999 Group exhibition in Chitra Art Gallery in Bangalore 1999

• Solo exhibition Teri Bangalore, 2005

• Painting Exhibition - Bangalore Film Society, 2005, 2006 and 2007

• “Truth from the margins” -Solo exhibition - AFB Bangalore, 2007

• Group exhibition - Silpa Chitra - Karnataka chitrakala parishath – 2009

• “Stirring Silence “- Solo Exhibition - AFB Bangalore – 2010

• Art Bangaluru 2012 - UB City

• Group exhibition - 9th Annual Show - Galerie Sara Arakkal – 2012

• Annual Art Show 2013

• Group exhibition - ArtWave - Karnataka chitrakala parishath – 2014

• Every Day Life: The Repertoire of Ritual and Performance, multi-media collaboration with US sound artist Diana Chester – IMA Hall, Kannur 2014

SUGATHA - Terracotta sculpture, 2015- honor to smt Sugathakumari teacher, well known poet and who is in the fore front of the environment and social struggles in Kerala

Dhanaraj’s works are represented in many individual, institutional and corporate collections in India and overseas.

" Rain In the Wind - A Collection of Art and Poetry" - is an innovative collaborative work that shares the art of Dhanaraj Keezhara and the poetic and inspirational writings of Deneene A. Collins.

Attended the Adobe Youth Voices (AYV) Summit 2009, to be held at Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA USA and in 2011, at Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA, USA.

Also served as a jury member, in Adobe Youth Voices Aspire Awards 2013.

Artist Highlights

• ArtWanted.com Gallery:    Fine Art