# Ananta Mandal

Ananta Mandal (born 5 February 1983) is an Indian artist. He has been recognized with international and national honours for his watercolour, oil, and acrylic paintings. He lives and works in Mumbai, India.

## Early life and education

Ananta Mandal spent his childhood in Chakdaha, West Bengal, in India. He graduated from Government College of Art & Craft, Kolkata, Calcutta University (Kolkata) in 2007 with a degree in Bachelor of Visual Arts. Mandal stayed in Kolkata from 2002 to 2007, during this period he started painting on Kolkata's life. In 2008 he moved to Mumbai.

## Career

Ananta Mandal has 16 solo exhibitions in his career, starting in 2004 when he had his first solo show at Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata as a student. He has exhibited in numerous group shows and solo exhibitions in India and abroad and he has often been invited as guest artist.
Most of Mandal's paintings are watercolor, acrylic and oil color based. His paintings depict realistic urban landscapes, city life, Bengalis durga festival (durga puja), old railway steam engine, tropical desert of Rajasthan and moods of nature. Many of his works depict the atmosphere of Mumbai and Kolkata.

## Awards

Mandal has won more than 40 awards internationally and in India.

### Juried art shows

* 2017: H. Q. Johnson Award at the Annual International Exhibition of the Northwest Watercolor Society, Washington, USA.
* 2013: First place at the 36th annual International Exhibition of the Watercolor Art Society-Houston, USA.
* 2012 : The Winsor & Newton Excellence Award – Northwest Watercolor Society, United States
* 2011 : Award – The Pennsylvania Watercolor Society, United States
* 2010 : Best of show Award – Western Federation of Watercolor Society, Utah, United States
* 2009 : 4th place - San Diego Watercolor Society, USA
* 2009 : Award - North East Watercolor Society, New York, USA
* 2007 : Award of Excellence, Western Federation of Watercolor Society, United States
* 2007 : Award, Texas Watercolor Society, Texas, United States
* 2006 : Award of Excellence, San Diego Watercolor Society, California, United States

### Awards in India

* 2013: AIFACS Award - 14th all India Watercolor Exhibition, New Delhi
* 2012 : AIFACS Award – 100 Years of the city of New Delhi 2011. New Delhi
* 2011: Award for Best Landscape in Watercolor Bombay Art Society. Mumbai
* 2010 : Best Painting Award - R.A.D Annual Exhibition, Arannya 2010, Kolkata
* 2009 : Best Entry Award - The Art Society of India. Mumbai
* 2009 : Award – Bombay Art Society. Mumbai
* 2006 : Camlin Award – 7th Eastern Region, (Kokuyo Camlin), Kolkata
* 2006 : Award - The Art Society of India. Mumbai
* 2006 : Award - Lokmanya Tilak Art Exhibition, Pune
* 2005 : Best Water Color Painting Award - Calcutta Information Centre, Government of West Bengal, Kolkata
* 2005 : Award – South-Central Zone Cultural Centre, Nagpur, Ministry of Culture (India).
* 2005 : Award - Indian Society of Oriental Art, Kolkata
* 2005 : Birla Academy Award - Birla Academy Art & Culture. Kolkata
* 2005 : Award - Bombay Art Society. Mumbai
* 2005 : Best Painting Award - Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata
* 2004 : Award - Government College of Art & Craft, Kolkata
* 2004 : Camlin Award - Kokuyo Camlin 5th Eastern Region, Kolkata
* 2004 : Best Water Color Painting Award - East Zone Cultural Centre, Kolkata, Ministry of Culture (India).
* 2002 : Award - Government College of Art & Craft, Kolkata