A.K. Raina

Avtar Krishan Raina (born August 10, 1938) is an artist from Kashmir, India. He started painting in 1965, and was a founder member and secretary of Kashmir Artist Guild(KAG) in 1974. He was selected by National Institute of Design for a training program of "craft design" in 1981. His work has been exhibited many times in notable art galleries such as Lalit Kala Akademi, Bombay Art Society, Academy of Fine Arts, Kolkata, Jammu and Kashmir Academy of Art, Culture and Languages, South of Market, San Francisco, National Museum of Damascus, Dhoomimal Gallery in New Delhi and Pritamlal Dua Gallery in Indore.
==Early life and education==
Avtar Krishan Raina was born in Srinagar, Kashmir in 1938. At the age of 16, he dropped out of college in Kashmir to join College of Fine Arts Trivandrum, Kerela (then known as school of arts, Trivandrum). 
==Career==
He started his career as a craftsman in 1959 at the age of 22 in School of Designs, Srinagar and started painting in 1965. His paintings have been exhibited at Kashmir Artist's Association in Srinagar(1970), Kashmir Artists Guild Exhibition in Srinagar(1974), Shridharani Gallery, New Delhi(1986), Dhoomimal Gallery in New Delhi(1987), Vadhera Art Gallery in New Delhi(1991), National Museum of Damascus(1995), South of Market, San Francisco, USA(2002), Devlalikar Art Gallery in Indore(2004), Dhoomimal Gallery in New Delhi(2005), Pritamlal Dua Gallery in Indore(2011), Dhoomimal Gallery in New Delhi(2012). On 29 June, 2018 A.K. Raina was part of an exhibition of 60 Kashmiri artisits from all over the world gathered at Srinagar, the exhibition was inaugurated by then governor of Jammu and Kashmir. 
Today he continues to paint in his studio in Indore.
==Personal life==
A.K. Raina in 1990 was forced to leave Kashmir during the Exodus of Kashmiri Hindus, and his house in Harwan, Srinagar was burnt down. An article in The Tribune (Chandigarh) in 2005 said: "There is an element of poignancy in his paintings as they also in a subtle way point out how he misses his homeland. Which he was forced to leave due to the strife there.". About Kashmir, A.K. Raina has said: 
One of his exhibition in Delhi was titled Exhile 23 years during this exhibition he said(in an interview): 
==Critical acclaim==
Keshav Malik art critic for the Hindustan Times and Times of India wrote about A.K. Raina's work: 
Artist K.Khosa wrote about him: 
Artist Pankaj Agarwal, commended Raina's work by saying 
== References ==
==External links==
* 
* Buy A K Raina Paintings Online - View Prices and Size at mojarto
* AK Raina - Kashmiri Pandit Network
* A.K.Raina, Dhoomimal Gallery, Delhi | Indian contemporary art
* A.K. Raina - Artmajeur
* AK Raina - Kashmiri Overseas Association
* A. K. Raina's art work on display... - Dhoomimal Gallery
* A.K.Raina,Photographer,Drawing,Paintings
* Belonging, exile and nostalgia for home
* Muslim, Pandit artists meet in Kashmir after 25 yrs, cry, laugh together for real dialogu
* Dhoomimal Gallery | My Art Guides
* abstarct - Shodhganga
Category:1938 births
Category:Indian artists
Category:Indian painters
Category:National Institute of Design
Category:Lalit Kala Akademi
Category:Arts organisations based in India
Category:University of Kerala alumni
Category:People from Jammu and Kashmir